Trump Removes U.S. Election Commission Chair Ellen Weintraub

The legality of President Trump's decision to dismiss the Democratic chair is being questioned, as Senate confirmation of a replacement is required.

President Donald Trump has dismissed Ellen Weintraub, the Democratic chair of the Federal Election Commission (FEC), effective immediately, according to a letter signed by Trump and shared by Weintraub on the platform X.
Weintraub, who has served on the FEC since 2002 and became chair in 2025, has challenged the legality of her removal, stating that a Senate-confirmed replacement must be in place before such a dismissal can occur.
Weintraub suggested her dismissal may stem from her public commentary on complaints against Trump, emphasizing her commitment to serving the American public despite her removal.
The FEC is a bipartisan body with six members, no more than three of whom can belong to the same political party; the current vice chair, James Trainor, is a Republican.
Trump's broader efforts to restructure government agencies have included dismissing or sidelining numerous officials to align the administration with his policy goals.