Top Biden Official REUSES To Leave After Trump Fires Her
After receiving a letter from President Donald Trump notifying her of her dismissal, Ellen Weintraub, the chairwoman of the Federal Election Commission, has refused to step down from her role.
Weintraub shared the letter on social media, making it clear that she has no intention of resigning because she considers the notice to be unlawful.
“Received a letter from POTUS today purporting to remove me as Commissioner & Chair of @FEC,” Weintraub stated in a post on X. “There’s a legal way to replace FEC commissioners-this isn’t it. I’ve been lucky to serve the American people & stir up some good trouble along the way. That’s not changing anytime soon.”
In her post, Weintraub displayed the letter, which read: “You are hereby removed as a Member of the Federal Election Commission, effective immediately,” according to the White House letter dated Jan. 31. It concluded with, “Thank you for your service on the Commission.”
The FEC currently consists of three Democrats, including Weintraub, along with two Republicans and one vacant seat.
During Trump’s first week in office, he dismissed more than a dozen inspectors general, a move some have questioned as potentially unlawful. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) sought an explanation from Trump regarding the dismissals and why Congress had not been informed.
Since Trump’s inauguration, restructuring key areas of the federal government has been a primary focus. Following Weintraub's disclosure of the letter, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) reacted swiftly, and Democrats have strongly criticized the decision.
“Trump’s political purge continues with this illegal dismissal of Democrat Ellen Weintraub from the FEC,” Raskin posted on X.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has spearheaded multiple initiatives aimed at significantly reducing government expenditures. This initiative is expected to result in the elimination of numerous government positions in the coming months.
On the same day, Democratic Representatives Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) unexpectedly entered House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office, accusing him of allowing Elon Musk’s team to access a Treasury Department payment system.
Their arrival coincided with a growing Democratic backlash against Musk’s increasing influence over federal operations. It also followed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's visit to the Speaker’s office to discuss the implementation of President Donald Trump’s tax agenda.
According to Politico, Moore claimed that Bessent was not present when she and Chu approached Johnson.
“Gwen Moore forced her way in there, and then I got to go in right behind her,” Chu told reporters. “And she was already confronting Speaker Johnson about Treasury Secretary Bessent and the stealing of Americans’ private information, tax information that should never be stolen and given to this billionaire Elon Musk.”
Last weekend, while meeting with House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) in Johnson’s office, Bessent reportedly granted Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency access to the Treasury Department’s payment system, which handles trillions of dollars in Social Security payments, tax refunds, and other governmental transactions.
On Tuesday, the Treasury Department informed Congress that Musk’s team now possesses “read-only” access to the system and that their review “is not resulting” in any delays or suspensions of authorized disbursements.
An eyewitness to the confrontation in Johnson’s office criticized the conduct of Chu and Moore.
“In the face of incredibly rude, extremely aggressive and frankly unhinged behavior, the Speaker was more than gracious and allowed the members into his personal office to hear their concerns,” said the source, who wished to remain anonymous.
Chu’s spokesperson countered this account.
“She never barged, or shoved her way, into anything. She politely joined the meeting already occurring and the Speaker invited her in for a brief, civil discussion. The Secretary was not present, and she left immediately afterwards,” said Chu’s communication director, Graeme Crews, in a statement.