FEC in Crisis: Only 2 of 6 Commissioners Remain After Ellen Weintraub’s Removal
- Zack Arnold
- Nov 3
- 3 min read
The Federal Elections Commission is paralyzed again. It takes 4 commissioners to make a quorum, and a quorum is required to conduct enforcement activities, and thus the FEC is currently unable to enforce campaign finance law. This is the fourth time in the FEC’s history that it has lacked a quorum, with three of those times coming under a Trump administration.
How We Got Here:
Ellen Weintraub, one of the most well-respected experts on campaign finance reform and regulation in the country, was removed from the FEC without reason by President Trump in February of 2025. Congress specifically created the FEC to be an independent regulator of federal campaigns, especially the president. “Congress intentionally did not grant the president the power to fire FEC commissioners.”
Origins of the FEC:
In the mid 20th century, federal campaigns in the United States featured bags of cash, opulent ‘free for the public’ campaign events to woo voters with giveaways and demonstrations of the latest expensive technologies, and shrewd politicians who would push the limits of what the voting public would accept. In the first decade of the 1900s, the executive branch “recognized the need for campaign finance reform” and called for legislation to ban corporate contributions for political purposes.” In the decades since then, Congress has slowly progressed to reform the campaign finance system in the US, to increase transparency and accountability.
What does Richard Nixon have to do with the FEC?
In the wake of Richard Nixon’s debaucherous 1972 presidential campaign, infamous for the Watergate scandal, Congress passed legislation to set contribution limits and set up an independent agency to oversee those limits, and in 1975 the Federal Election Commission started. There is a great timeline of important milestones of the FEC on their website.
A Need for the FEC Today:
In the last decade, each election cycle sees record breaking fundraising totals, increasing involvement of dark money Super PACs, including over $2 billion raised in 2024 of undisclosed dark money.
At Princeton Strategies, we believe in the power of being transparent with voters and building trust among your current or prospective constituents. We call for a fully functional FEC to ensure transparent and fair elections!
Campaign finance laws are still on the books and campaigns are liable for penalties. Contact us today and our campaign compliance experts will make sure you follow all relevant campaign finance laws and avoid any potential financial penalties or embarrassing mistakes.
Here are some of the potential impacts of non-compliance we’ve covered here before:
The Real Costs of FEC Non-Compliance:
1. What happens if I make a mistake in my FEC filing?
The FEC doesn’t take errors lightly. Something as seemingly minor as a missed deadline or incomplete contributor info can lead to costly penalties. These fines can drain your campaign funds—money that should be used to reach voters, not to pay for preventable mistakes.
✅ Real Risk: Campaigns have faced fines ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars. One late or inaccurate filing could derail your entire fundraising momentum.
2. Aside from a fine, what other penalties could I incur?
Compliance issues don’t just hurt your bank account—they can hurt your reputation. In today’s transparent digital world, public FEC reports are closely monitored by opponents, watchdog groups, and journalists. Filing errors or violations can raise red flags and result in damaging headlines.
✅ Real Impact: Even minor mistakes can be amplified into stories that question your leadership or ethics—and once public trust is shaken, it's hard to rebuild.
3. Will other parts of my campaign suffer while trying to address campaign finance issues?When you're caught up trying to fix compliance errors or dealing with an audit, you're not focusing on what really matters—your campaign strategy, outreach, and fundraising. Poor compliance can also prevent you from qualifying for certain endorsements or funding sources.
✅ Real Consequence: A single FEC warning letter can slow your campaign at the worst possible time, costing you critical days before a deadline or election.
4. What’s the biggest benefit of having a strong compliance team?Let’s not forget the personal toll. Campaigns already run on tight timelines, limited resources, and immense pressure. Scrambling to fix preventable errors pulls your team away from big-picture goals and wears down morale.
✅ Real Challenge: Peace of mind is priceless. A strong compliance strategy gives your team the confidence to move forward without fear of setbacks.
