The Federal Election Commission Is Facing a De Facto Shutdown

The FEC needs at least four members to function. It’s about to drop to only three.

Federal Election Commission

Sarah Silbiger/CQ Roll Call via AP

The Federal Election Commission will soon lose its powers to enforce and regulate campaign finance laws, NOTUS has learned.

This de facto FEC shutdown will be triggered when Republican Commissioner Allen Dickerson resigns on Wednesday, leaving the six-member FEC with too few commissioners to legally conduct high-level business, three government sources familiar with the matter said.

The independent, bipartisan agency won’t be legally empowered to fine scofflaws, make new rules, conduct audits, issue advisory guidance, vote on the outcomes of investigations or even conduct formal meetings — at least until President Donald Trump nominates one or more new commissioners that the U.S. Senate, in turn, must confirm.