US President Donald Trump has dismissed the remaining members of the independent federal commission that advises election officials across the country.
The action comes just months before the midterm elections, effectively dissolving the body's current leadership structure.
The dismissals follow a landmark US Supreme Court decision that significantly broadened the president's authority to remove officials from independent regulatory agencies.
While the court rejected some of the administration's broader arguments, the ruling provided the legal basis for Trump to assert direct control over bodies previously considered insulated from executive interference.
This development marks the latest escalation in the president's long-running campaign to rein in independent institutions.
The move is likely to intensify scrutiny on the integrity of the upcoming electoral process and may trigger legal challenges from opposition groups and civil liberties organizations.