President Donald Trump made headlines this week by firing the chair of the Federal Election Commission, Democrat Ellen Weintraub. This move adds to a growing list of ousters of Democratic-aligned regulators throughout the government.
Weintraub took to social media to share the news, stating, “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.”
Following the announcement, the FEC’s website listed Weintraub’s seat as vacant. However, Weintraub herself spoke out, claiming that her removal was illegal. She emphasized, “I am not aware of an FEC commissioner ever having been fired. There’s nothing in the Federal Election Campaign Act that suggests that is an option.”
The commission is structured to have six members, with a limit of three members from any one party. Prior to Weintraub’s removal, the agency consisted of three Democrats and two Republicans, with one open seat after former commissioner Sean Cooksey transitioned to Vice President JD Vance’s office as counsel.
Weintraub is part of a group of commissioners who have continued to serve after their terms have expired. While members can remain until a replacement is confirmed by the Senate, Weintraub’s term ended in 2007 and she was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2002. Notably, President Trump has not nominated a replacement for her position.
Weintraub highlighted that the holdover status was established by Congress to safeguard the agency from political interference. Without a quorum of four members, the commission cannot effectively operate. Weintraub expressed concern that her removal would push the commission to the brink of dormancy.
Since making her statement online, Weintraub has not been contacted by the White House. The White House has yet to respond to requests for comment. The FEC announced the cancellation of its upcoming meeting on Feb. 13.
Advocacy groups promoting strict campaign finance regulations were quick to criticize Trump’s attempt to dismiss the commissioner. Trevor Potter, a former Republican chair of the FEC and president of Campaign Legal Center, condemned the move, stating, “In claiming to fire a commissioner of the Federal Election Commission, the president violates the law, the separation of powers, and generations of Supreme Court precedent.”
Weintraub stated that she supports being replaced as long as the process is conducted properly. She emphasized, “I absolutely believe in following the laws.” The situation surrounding Weintraub’s removal continues to unfold, sparking debates about the legality and implications of the president’s actions.
