The Federal Election Commission (FEC), the independent agency tasked with safeguarding the integrity of U.S. elections, has once again been rendered powerless.
According to reports, with the resignation of Republican Commissioner Allen Dickerson last week, the already fragile commission has now lost quorum, making it legally incapable of enforcing federal campaign finance laws or taking any significant action ahead of the 2026 midterms.
This marks the fourth time in modern history — and the third under Donald Trump — that the FEC has been left incapacitated, but this time, the implications feel more intentional than incidental. Dickerson’s exit follows the January resignation of Republican Commissioner Sean Cooksey and the February firing of longtime Democratic Commissioner Ellen Weintraub by Trump himself. With only three of six seats filled, the Commission cannot investigate campaign finance complaints, levy penalties, issue advisory opinions, or initiate new litigation.
Dickerson, whose term was set to expire April 30, announced his departure during an open meeting. While his exit aligns with the end of his term, previous commissioners have routinely stayed on past expiration to maintain quorum. The timing, particularly in light of Trump’s ongoing campaign and executive maneuvers, raises red flags.
This erosion of the FEC’s authority coincides with a larger pattern: Trump’s systematic dismantling of federal agencies’ independence. From the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to the National Labor Relations Board, the president has moved to reshape key institutions in his image, removing officials, blocking confirmations, and attempting to strip these bodies of regulatory autonomy.
Earlier this year, Trump signed a sweeping executive order mandating White House oversight of independent regulatory agencies, including the FEC, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and others.
The order not only challenges the long-held independence of these institutions but also bars any federal employee from interpreting laws in ways that “contravene” the views of the president or attorney general. In effect, Trump has made a play to consolidate power over agencies originally designed to operate above partisan politics.
Legal experts and watchdogs are alarmed. Executive Director of the Campaign Legal Center Adav Noti warns that the current vacancies at the FEC come at a critical time.
“It’s terrible to have a non-functioning FEC,” Noti told CNN. “But, between having a non-functioning FEC and an FEC that the president can use to prosecute his political opponents, it’s probably better that they not have their quorum for now.”
The Democratic National Committee and congressional Democrats have already filed a lawsuit challenging Trump’s executive order, arguing that these moves undermine the rule of law and threaten the integrity of U.S. elections by opening the door for partisan influence over what should be impartial enforcement of campaign finance rules.
Adding another layer of urgency is Trump’s recent suggestion that he may pursue a third term in office, despite the clear constitutional prohibition outlined in the 22nd Amendment. In a recent interview with NBC News, Trump stated he was “not joking” about exploring methods for a third term, even entertaining scenarios in which he could run as vice president and reassume office after the resignation of a figurehead president like JD Vance.
Constitutional scholars widely reject these legal gymnastics, stating that the so-called “loophole” theory—that the 22nd Amendment only restricts someone from being elected more than twice, not from serving more than twice—has been dismissed as both implausible and dangerous. Georgetown law professor David Super calls it a “clear misinterpretation,” while Northwestern’s Paul Gowder argues that such tactics undermine the entire spirit of the Constitution.
Trump has since walked back his threats to pursue a third term in office. In an interview with NBC’s Meet The Press, he said, “But this is not something I’m looking to do. I’m looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody, ideally a great Republican, a great Republican to carry it forward.”
What’s at stake here is not just the leadership of a federal agency; it’s the integrity of American democracy. The FEC is meant to be the public’s watchdog, not a tool of political retaliation or manipulation. And yet, under Trump’s leadership, its capacity has been gutted, its independence compromised, and its future uncertain.
Without immediate Senate-confirmed appointments, leaders who are supposed to be committed to the rule of law and not beholden to any one man, the FEC risks becoming a ghost of the institution it was designed to be. If we allow the erosion of institutional checks and balances to continue unchecked, we may soon find ourselves not just debating the mechanics of authoritarianism but living through it.
SEE ALSO:
Op-Ed: Being Anti-MAGA Isn’t Anti-American — It’s Patriotic
The Great White Heist: Trump’s Plan to Bankrupt America
FEC Loses Enforcement Power As Trump Seeks Greater Control
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