President Donald Trump has removed the final three commissioners of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). As a result, this bipartisan federal agency now has no leadership just before the midterm elections.

唐納德·川普總統已撤換美國選舉協助委員會 (EAC) 最後三位委員。因此，在期中選舉前夕，這個跨黨派的聯邦機構目前處於領導層真空狀態。

The removal of the EAC leadership took place on July 9. Democratic commissioners Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland were fired via email from the White House, while Republican commissioner Christy McCormick was allowed to resign. This follows the departure of Donald Palmer in April, meaning all four seats on the commission are now empty. The White House asserted that these actions were a legal use of presidential power to ensure the agency focuses on securing elections and counting legal votes. This position is based on a Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. Slaughter, which gave the president more power to remove officials from independent agencies.

EAC 領導層的撤換發生於 7 月 9 日。民主黨委員 Thomas Hicks 與 Benjamin Hovland 是透過白宮電子郵件被解雇，而共和黨委員 Christy McCormick 則獲准請辭。在此之前，Donald Palmer 已於 4 月離職，意味著委員會的四個席位目前全部空缺。白宮主張這些行動是合法行使總統權力，以確保該機構專注於保障選舉安全並計算合法票數。

The EAC was created in 2002 to support state and local election officials. Its main jobs include certifying voting technology, giving out security grants, and providing technical advice. However, the agency needs at least three commissioners to make official decisions. Consequently, the current vacancy means the body cannot create new policies or update standards. This happens while the administration is trying to implement the SAVE America Act and require proof of citizenship for voter registration, although some of these plans were blocked by courts.

EAC 成立於 2002 年，旨在支持州與地方的選舉官員。其主要職責包括認證投票技術、發放安全補助金以及提供技術建議。然而，該機構至少需要三名委員才能做出官方決定。因此，目前的空缺意味著該組織無法制定新政策或更新標準。而此時政府正嘗試執行《拯救美國法案》並要求選民登記需提供公民證明，儘管部分計劃已被法院攔截。

Different political groups have reacted strongly to this move. Democratic leaders, such as Senator Mark Warner, emphasized that this action could destabilize election systems and make oversight political. On the other hand, some Republicans defended the move, arguing it is necessary to increase accountability and election integrity. Experts have also noted that the timing of these removals, occurring right before a general election, may make it harder to find legal solutions.

不同的政治團體對此舉反應強烈。民主黨領導人（如參議員 Mark Warner）強調，此舉可能會導致選舉系統不穩定，並使監管政治化。另一方面，部分共和黨人則為此舉辯護，認為這對於提高問責制和選舉誠信是必要的。專家也指出，在總統大選前夕進行撤換，可能會增加尋求法律解決方案的難度。

The EAC is currently unable to function. This leaves state and local officials to organize the upcoming midterm elections without federal coordination or updated technical support.

EAC 目前無法運作。這使得州與地方官員在缺乏聯邦協調或更新技術支援的情況下，必須自行組織即將到來的期中選舉。