The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 10, 2025
Shana Broussard became chair of the Federal Election Commission July 1st. Problem is, her bipartisan commission, hapless in the best of times, will still be paralyzed. The agency is supposed to have six members, but has only three, so no enforcement can take place.
Broussard, a Democrat, was nominated by President Donald Trump in his first term and confirmed by the Senate in December 2020. Broussard served as a counsel in the FEC beginning in 2008.
Broussard takes the reins of an agency unable to do its job. Resignations of commissioners in January and April, and Trump’s firing of Chair Ellen Weintraub in February, left only three members – and no quorum to enforce election and campaign finance rules.
The commission frequently deadlocks along its three Democrat and three Republican party lines. Only in egregious cases of corruption, such as Congressman George Santos, is a bipartisan recommendation for prosecution typically made. Despite significant evidence, President Donald Trump’s hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels – a campaign finance violation – ended in a partisan deadlock.
The FEC can continue to require campaign finance reporting, receive complaints, investigate and make recommendations. It just can’t enforce anything.
Why, you may ask, has a Democrat become chair of the Trump administration’s FEC? Because it’s unlikely Trump will nominate an additional three members, keeping the FEC powerless to referee the upcoming midterms.
We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
American Democracy Minute – The Federal Election Commission is Reportedly Now Out of Commission with the Departure of Another Member. It’s Unlikely to Get Fixed Soon.
Federal Election Commission – Shana M. Broussard becomes Chair of the Commission
Federal Electon Commission – STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER SHANA M. BROUSSARD UPON
BECOMING CHAIR OF THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION
Federal Election Commission – Leadership and structure
Campaigns & Elections – New Chair Takes Over a Paralyzed Federal Election Commission
Brennan Center for Justice – Enforcement & the FEC
Groups Taking Action:
Campaign Legal Center, Public Citizen, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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