In a move that has sparked controversy, President Donald Trump removed Ellen Weintraub from her position as Commissioner and Chair of the U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC) in a letter dated January 31. However, Weintraub is refusing to vacate her post, claiming that the removal is unlawful.
On Thursday, Weintraub publicly shared an image of the letter, in which Trump wrote: “Dear Commissioner Weintraub, You are hereby removed as a Member of the Federal Election Commission effective immediately.”
Shortly after posting the memo, Weintraub responded defiantly, stating, “Received a letter from POTUS today purporting to remove me as Commissioner & Chair of FEC.” She further accused Trump of violating legal protocols and hinted at continuing her work despite the dismissal.
Received a letter from POTUS today purporting to remove me as Commissioner & Chair of @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. That’s not changing anytime soon. pic.twitter.com/7voecN2vpj
— Ellen L. Weintraub (@ellenlweintraub.bsky.social) (@EllenLWeintraub) February 6, 2025
“There’s a legal way to replace FEC commissioners—this isn’t it,” she wrote. “I’ve been lucky to serve the American people & stir up some good trouble along the way. That’s not changing anytime soon.
Weintraub has long been an outspoken critic of Trump, particularly on the issue of election integrity. In 2019, she publicly condemned his claims of widespread voter fraud, calling them baseless and harmful to democracy. During an appearance on CNN, she argued that Trump’s allegations were “damaging” and lacked credible evidence.
As Chair of the FEC, Weintraub played a prominent role in election oversight, often pushing for stronger campaign finance regulations and speaking out against foreign interference. Her removal is likely to intensify debates over election policies and federal oversight under Trump’s administration.
Since returning to office on January 20, Trump has been aggressively restructuring the federal government, aiming to streamline agencies and reduce bureaucracy. His administration has taken significant steps, including offering buyouts to federal employees, dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, and reducing the scope of USAID.
Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has indicated that these efforts will continue at full speed. With the removal of Weintraub, Trump signals that reshaping the FEC could be a key part of his broader agenda to reform federal agencies.
For now, Weintraub’s defiance sets the stage for a potential legal and political showdown, as questions arise over the limits of presidential authority in removing FEC commissioners. Whether she can legally resist Trump’s order remains unclear, but the battle over election oversight is far from over.