Federal Election Commission Chairwoman Ellen Weintraub has announced her intention to remain in her position despite receiving a letter from President Donald Trump indicating her termination. Weintraub utilized social media to disclose the contents of the letter, asserting that the dismissal is not legally valid.
“Today, I received a letter from the President purporting to remove me as Commissioner and Chair of the @FEC,” Weintraub stated in a post on X. “There is a lawful procedure for replacing FEC commissioners, and this does not adhere to it. I have been privileged to serve the American public and to engage in meaningful advocacy during my tenure. That commitment will not waver.”
In her social media update, Weintraub displayed the letter, which stated, “You are hereby removed as a Member of the Federal Election Commission, effective immediately,” and expressed gratitude for her service. The letter was dated January 31.
Within the FEC, Weintraub is one of three Democratic members, alongside two Republicans and one vacant position. There are concerns among some that Trump’s actions to dismiss over a dozen inspectors general during his initial week in office were unlawful, prompting Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to request clarification regarding these actions and the lack of notification to Congress.
From the outset of the Trump administration, there has been a concerted effort to implement extensive reforms across the federal government. These actions have faced significant criticism from Democratic lawmakers, and shortly after Weintraub’s post, Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) remarked, “Trump’s political purge continues with this unlawful removal of Democrat Ellen Weintraub from the FEC,” via X.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has been at the forefront of numerous governmental reforms aimed at substantially curtailing federal spending, leading to expectations of job reductions within the government in the near future. This development coincided with an unexpected visit by two Democratic representatives, Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.), to House Speaker Mi.
The intrusion took place shortly after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent entered the speaker’s office to deliberate on the implementation of President Donald Trump’s tax policy, amidst a rising Democratic opposition to Musk’s acquisition of federal government functions. However, Moore asserted that when she and Chu approached Johnson, Bessent was not in attendance, as reported by Politico.
“Gwen Moore entered the room forcefully, and I followed closely behind her,” Chu recounted to reporters. “She was already challenging Speaker Johnson regarding Treasury Secretary Bessent and the unauthorized access to Americans’ private tax information, which should never have been compromised and handed over to billionaire Elon Musk.”
Last weekend, Bessent granted access to the payment system to members of Musk’s purported Department of Government Efficiency while meeting with House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) in Johnson’s office. This system oversees trillions of dollars in tax refunds, Social Security payments, and various other governmental functions.
According to the Treasury Department, Musk’s team currently possesses “read-only” access to the system, and their review “is not resulting” in any delays or interruptions of federal agency-approved disbursements, as communicated to lawmakers on Tuesday.
The actions of Chu and Moore were criticized by a witness present during the incident in Johnson’s office. “In the face of incredibly rude, extremely aggressive, and frankly unhinged behavior, the Speaker was more than gracious and permitted the members into his personal office to express their concerns,” stated the individual, who requested anonymity to discuss the matter candidly.
A spokesperson for Chu attempted to refute this characterization. “She did not barge or force her way into anything. She respectfully joined the ongoing meeting, and the Speaker welcomed her in for a brief, civil discussion. The Secretary was not present, and she departed immediately afterward,” stated Chu’s communication director, Graeme Crews, in a formal statement.
