FEC chair says Trump has moved to fire her
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Federal Election Commission Commissioner Ellen Weintraub on Capitol Hill in 2023. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Federal Election Commission commissioner and chair Ellen Weintraub said Thursday evening President Trump has moved to fire her, but she indicated she won't be removed from office without a fight.
The big picture: Weintraub shared on X a copy of a letter she said was from "POTUS today purporting to remove" her from her role at the FEC.
- "There's a legal way to replace FEC commissioners — this isn't it. I've been lucky to serve the American people & stir up some good trouble along the way," said Weintraub, who is a Democrat.
- "That's not changing anytime soon."
Zoom out: Trump has since taking office last month embarked on a massive overhaul of the federal workforce — freezing hiring, offering mass buyouts, firing critics and those appointed during the Biden administration and targeting perceived enemies.
Zoom in: "The FEC is an independent, regulatory agency with more than 300 employees. It's led by six Commissioners," per a post on the commission's website.
- Weintraub has served as a commissioner on the FEC since 2002 and was elected in December chair for 2025. Republican James Trainor was elected vice chair.
- Presidents appoint commissioners and the Senate confirms them.
- "By law, no more than three Commissioners can represent the same political party, and at least four votes are required for any official Commission action," per a commission post. "This structure was created to encourage nonpartisan decisions."
Between the lines: If a president moved to fire an FEC commissioner, it would violate the law, the separation of powers and "generations of Supreme Court precedent," said Trevor Potter, a former FEC commissioner and chair who was appointed by then-President George H.W. Bush, on X.
- "Congress explicitly, and intentionally, created the FEC to be an independent, bipartisan federal agency whose commissioners are confirmed by Congress to serve the vital role of protecting the democratic rights of American voters," added Potter, who's the founder and president of the Campaign Legal Center nonprofit watchdog group.
- "As the only agency that regulates the president, Congress intentionally did not grant the president the power to fire FEC commissioners."
What they're saying: Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), ranking member on the House Administration Committee, which is responsible for oversight of the FEC, said Thursday night Trump's actions "demonstrate his disdain for accountability under the law."
- He added in the email thanking Weintraub for her service: "This onslaught against the FEC — when that agency is currently reviewing complaints against the President — reeks of corruption."
- Representatives for the FEC declined to comment on Weintraub's post. Representatives for the White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment in the evening.
Go deeper: Behind the Curtain: The payback precedent
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
