FEC Shutdown Leaves U.S. Campaign Finance Oversight in Limbo
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) ceased operations on Wednesday due to the resignation of Republican Commissioner Allen Dickerson, leaving the body without the required quorum to function. The commission’s ability to enforce campaign finance laws is now in jeopardy.
With only three commissioners remaining after Dickerson’s departure, the FEC falls short of the four members needed to conduct essential business. President Donald Trump has yet to appoint replacements for Dickerson and Democratic Commissioner Ellen Weintraud, who was controversially dismissed by Trump in February. The White House has not signaled when nominations might be expected.
The FEC is charged with monitoring the financial activities of federal campaigns, political action committees (PACs), and parties. They are required to submit quarterly reports detailing their financial activities. However, without a quorum, the commission cannot issue rulings, impose penalties, or offer guidance on campaign finance compliance.
Alix Fraser, vice president of advocacy at Issue One, expressed concerns about the implications of the FEC’s inactivity. “The FEC is supposed to be the nation’s top campaign finance referee,” she told NOTUS. “The loss of a quorum at the FEC is more than a bureaucratic hiccup — it’s the refs walking off the field at a moment when robust scrutiny of money in politics is needed more than ever.”
This is not the first time the FEC has faced operational challenges. During Trump’s first term, the commission was inoperative for nine months in 2019 following Matthew Petersen’s resignation, and again for five months after Caroline Hunter left her position. These shutdowns resulted in significant backlogs for future commissioners.
In a related context, Trump was found guilty in May 2024 of breaching campaign finance laws through a hush money payment during his 2016 campaign. Despite this, Judge Juan Merchan granted him an unconditional discharge after his 2024 presidential victory. Further allegations arose last year when he was accused of using campaign funds to pay legal expenses.
The White House has not responded to inquiries regarding the current lack of action on FEC appointments. You can read more about this issue on the American Journal News.
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