The Federal Election Commission (FEC), responsible for overseeing federal campaign finance laws, has been rendered ineffective following the resignation of Republican Commissioner Allen Dickerson, leaving it without the quorum needed to function. This resignation, along with prior changes made by President Trump, reflects a broader effort to consolidate control over independent federal agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the National Labor Relations Board. Trump's executive order mandates that regulations from these agencies undergo White House review, aiming for near-complete executive control and affecting the FEC's ability to pursue its mandate. Legal challenges have been mounted against the order, highlighting concerns over potential manipulation of agency decisions to target political opponents. Adav Noti of the Campaign Legal Center emphasizes the importance of the Senate carefully vetting new nominees to ensure they uphold the independence crucial for fair enforcement of campaign finance laws.

The Federal Election Commission is currently incapacitated due to the lack of a quorum, which was caused by the resignation of Republican Commissioner Allen Dickerson and previous actions by President Trump, including the firing of Democratic Commissioner Ellen Weintraub.

President Trump's efforts to exert more control over independent government agencies have resulted in the FEC losing its enforcement and policy-making powers, mirroring similar situations at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the National Labor Relations Board.

A controversial executive order issued by Trump mandates White House oversight of independent agency regulations, advocating for presidential control over the executive branch and restricting how laws can be interpreted by executive branch employees.

The order has prompted legal challenges from the Democratic National Committee and other party entities, who argue that it jeopardizes the integrity of elections by potentially allowing biased resolution of FEC complaints.

Adav Noti, from the Campaign Legal Center, warns of the dangers posed by the current FEC vacancies during a critical period and stresses the need for the Senate to ensure that new commissioners are committed to maintaining the agency's independence.

Historically, the FEC has experienced gridlock and loss of enforcement capability, notably during the 2020 presidential campaign, underscoring the challenges of partisan divisions within the commission.

The White House has not provided a timeline for nominating new FEC members, whose appointments require Senate confirmation, leaving the future functionality of the commission uncertain.