Trump fires Election Assistance Commission Democrats

President Donald Trump fired the last two Democrats on the US Election Assistance Commission, leaving the federal election agency without enough commissioners to approve actions months before November's midterm elections.

The White House defended the move, saying a Supreme Court ruling last month gave the president expanded power to remove members of independent agencies. A White House official said Trump may remove people not aligned with securing elections and counting legal votes.

The commission certifies voting equipment and administers hundreds of millions of dollars in federal election support. It normally needs three of four commissioners to approve actions. The remaining Republican-chosen commissioner resigned Thursday, after another commissioner had resigned in April.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Trump of trying to seize control of elections. Senator Mark Warner called the removals an extraordinary step that required an immediate explanation.

The firings come as Trump pushes voting restrictions before the midterms, including proof-of-citizenship requirements for voter registration, photo identification at polling places and new limits on mail-in ballots.