The Federal Election Commission (FEC) finds itself unable to function as of Wednesday, a situation President Donald Trump appears to have no intention of remedying.
Republican Commissioner Allen Dickerson’s resignation on April 30 left the FEC without enough members to conduct its essential duties, such as upholding campaign finance laws.
In February, President Trump dismissed Democratic Commissioner Ellen Weintraud. With two vacant seats, appointments and Senate confirmations are necessary to restore the commission’s functionality. However, there is no indication from the White House that new nominations are imminent.
The FEC generally consists of six members, but a minimum of four is required for operations. Currently, only three commissioners remain after Dickerson’s departure.
Serving as a watchdog for campaign financing, the FEC ensures federal campaigns, political action committees, and parties report financial activities quarterly, detailing fundraising, donor information, and expenditures.
With the current lack of quorum, the commission cannot proceed with investigations, penalize infractions, or offer guidance on compliance with finance regulations.
Alix Fraser, vice president of advocacy at Issue One, expressed concerns to NOTUS about potential corruption due to the FEC’s inactivity.
“The FEC is supposed to be the nation’s top campaign finance referee,” Fraser remarked. “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.”
Trump’s first term also saw a period when the FEC was nonfunctional. In August 2019, the commission was inactive for nine months following Matthew Petersen’s resignation, and another five months when Caroline Hunter stepped down, resulting in accumulated responsibilities for future commissioners.
In May 2024, Trump was found guilty of campaign finance violations related to a hush money payment during his 2016 run. Judge Juan Merchan granted him an unconditional discharge after his 2024 presidential victory.
Trump faced further allegations last year for allegedly using campaign funds for legal expenses.
No comments were provided by a White House spokesperson regarding this story.
The post Trump effectively shuts down campaign finance watchdog appeared first on American Journal News.
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