Donald Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Election Commission Chair Ellen Weintraub has created a standoff that could affect how election rules are enforced.
“You are hereby removed as a Member of the Federal Election Commission, effective immediately,” Trump wrote in his January 31 letter to Weintraub. The FEC chair quickly rejected this directive. “There’s a legal way to replace FEC commissioners-this isn’t it,” Weintraub posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Received a letter from POTUS today purporting to remove me as Commissioner & Chair of @FEC. There’s a legal way to replace FEC commissioners-this isn’t it. I’ve been lucky to serve the American people & stir up some good trouble along the way. That’s not changing anytime soon. pic.twitter.com/7voecN2vpj
— Ellen L. Weintraub (@ellenlweintraub.bsky.social) (@EllenLWeintraub) February 6, 2025
The FEC, which enforces rules about political donations and campaign spending, operates with six commissioners who make decisions about election oversight. The agency works to ensure campaign finance laws are followed and election rules are properly enforced. When the commission needs to take any official action, at least four commissioners must agree, as specified in FEC regulations.
Weintraub’s role matters because she has pushed for strict campaign finance law enforcement and robust disclosure since 2002. Her term technically ended in 2007, but she stayed on because no replacement was confirmed – a common practice at the FEC when new commissioners aren’t appointed. During her time, she has been a consistent voice for meaningful campaign finance law enforcement and comprehensive disclosure.
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The agency’s structure requires no more than three commissioners from one political party, making Weintraub’s position crucial for maintaining the required balance. With over 300 employees, the FEC depends on this bipartisan structure to enforce campaign finance laws and oversee federal elections.
Trevor Potter, a former FEC chairman, condemned Trump’s decision, stating it violates the constitutional separation of powers. Representative Joe Morelle also criticized the move, describing it as an attempt to undermine accountability.
The timing draws extra attention as Trump has been firing and sidelining hundreds of civil servants and top officials at agencies in his first steps toward downsizing the bureaucracy and installing more loyalists. Organizations like the Brennan Center for Justice and the Campaign Legal Center have expressed concerns about the impact of this decision on election integrity and transparency.Legal experts point out that federal law requires presidents to nominate new commissioners and get Senate approval before removing current ones. Trump’s letter didn’t mention any replacement plans. Weintraub has indicated she’ll keep working, stating “That’s not changing anytime soon,” setting up a potential legal fight over who can serve on this key election oversight body.
