Trump administration fires Democrats from privacy oversight board

Catch up quick: The administration sent a letter to the three Democratic members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) last week, telling them to resign by last Thursday or face termination.

• One of the fired board member's term wasn't supposed to end for several more years.

What they're saying: "The White House terminated Chair Sharon Bradford Franklin, and Members Ed Felten and Travis LeBlanc from their positions as of 5 p.m. last Thursday," PCLOB spokesman Alan Silverleib said in a statement.

• "The agency, however, has significant ability to continue functioning with its full staff and remaining Member Beth Williams to continue the Board's important mission, including its advice and oversight functions, and its current projects," per the statement.
• "The Board looks forward to moving ahead on additional projects formally following the nomination, confirmation, and appointment of new Members."

The other side: Kia Hamadanchy, senior policy counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union, said the move "not only contradicts President Trump's supposed commitment to addressing surveillance abuses, but is a direct attack on accountability and independent oversight."

What we're watching: Nominating new members to the PCLOB — each of whom would require Senate confirmation — is typically low on any new administration's list.

Go deeper: Board firings, loyalty tests thin out U.S. government's cyber bench