FEC Inoperable as Trump Leaves Commission Seats Vacant, No Plans Set

The Federal Election Commission Faces Inactivity Amid Commissioner Departures

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has been rendered inactive following the resignation of Republican Commissioner Allen Dickerson on April 30. This departure leaves the commission without the necessary quorum to operate, as it now has only three members instead of the required four.

President Donald Trump, who controversially dismissed Democratic Commissioner Ellen Weintraud in February, has not put forward any nominations to fill the vacant seats. The positions will remain unfilled until the President appoints replacements and they are confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The White House has yet to signal any forthcoming nominations.

The FEC, typically composed of six commissioners, plays a critical role in ensuring compliance with campaign finance laws in the United States. It requires federal campaigns, PACs, and parties to submit quarterly reports detailing their financial activities, including donations and expenditures.

Without the quorum, the FEC is unable to make decisions on investigations, enforce penalties for violations, or offer guidance on campaign finance law compliance.

Alix Fraser, vice president of advocacy for Issue One, expressed concern over the situation, stating to NOTUS, “The FEC is supposed to be the nation’s top campaign finance referee. The loss of a quorum at the FEC is more than a bureaucratic hiccup — it’s the refs walking off the field at a moment when robust scrutiny of money in politics is needed more than ever.”

The last occurrence of the FEC lacking a quorum was during Trump’s first term. In August 2019, the commission was unable to function for nine months after Matthew Petersen’s resignation, followed by another shutdown for five months when Caroline Hunter resigned. These shutdowns led to a significant backlog of work for future commissioners.

In May 2024, Trump was found guilty of campaign finance violations related to a hush money payment during his 2016 campaign. Despite this, Judge Juan Merchan granted him an unconditional discharge after his 2024 presidential election victory. Additionally, Trump faced accusations of misusing campaign funds to cover legal fees last year, as reported by the Brennan Center.

The White House did not respond to requests for comment on the current status of the FEC. For further details, visit the original article on American Journal News.