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Did the White House's written reasons for firing independent board members cite any law?

Research question: What reasons did the White House give in writing when it removed members of independent boards, and did those notices cite any legal authority?

The records show that the notices gave no reasons: Trump's letter removed Weintraub from the Federal Election Commission with immediate effect and gave no stated reason 1, and the email ending the positions of Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland gave no reason for the firings 3. The only explanation came from a White House official in a statement to Votebeat, not in the notice, who said the president reserves the right to remove people who may not be totally aligned with securing America's elections 4. That official also cited the Supreme Court's Slaughter decision as the basis for the removals, again outside the firing notice 5, and the Court's ruling in Trump v. Slaughter held that the president may remove leaders of independent agencies 6. The facts do not show whether the Weintraub letter cited any legal authority, and the newest fact is from July 10, 2026, about three months before today 5.

Checked 2026-10-21. Only documented and supported facts are used.
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Sources

[1] supported
Trump's letter to Weintraub removed her from the Federal Election Commission with immediate effect and gave no stated reason.
"You are hereby removed as a Member of the Federal Election Commission, effective immediately."
US Federal Election Commission chair says Trump tried to fire her illegally
[2] supported
Weintraub said the firing was illegal because the law provides a legal process for replacing FEC commissioners and this removal did not follow it.
""There's a legal way to replace FEC commissioners-this isn't it," Weintraub, a Democrat, said in her post."
US Federal Election Commission chair says Trump tried to fire her illegally
[3] supported
The termination email sent to Democratic commissioners Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland stated that their positions were ended effective immediately, and it gave no reason for the firings.
"is terminated, effective immediately. Thank you for your service,” the email said."
Trump fires Election Assistance Commission members, leaving agency unable to act - Votebeat
[4] supported
The White House official defending the firings said the president reserves the right to remove people who may not be totally aligned with securing America's elections.
"The President, and head of the Executive Branch, reserves the right to remove individuals that may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America’s elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted."
Trump fires Election Assistance Commission members, leaving agency unable to act - Votebeat
[5] supported
The White House official cited the Supreme Court's Slaughter decision as the basis that gives the president precedence to remove the commissioners, though this was in a statement to Votebeat rather than in the firing notice.
"The Slaughter decision gives the President precedence to do so."
Trump fires Election Assistance Commission members, leaving agency unable to act - Votebeat
[6] supported
In Trump v. Slaughter, the Supreme Court overturned decades of precedent and said the president may remove leaders of independent agencies.
"the court overturned decades of precedent and said that the president may remove leaders of independent agencies"
Trump fires Election Assistance Commission members, leaving agency unable to act - Votebeat