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Two Democrats from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have been terminated.

President Trump's dismissals of individuals have resulted in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) lacking the necessary number of members to make decisions.

, and ASMedia

2025 September 22 . 5:43 PM

2 min read

Two Democrats from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have been dismissed from their... — Two Democrats from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have been dismissed from their positions.

Two Democrats from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have been terminated.

In a move that has sparked controversy, President Donald Trump removed Charlotte A. Burrows and Jocelyn Samuels, both Democratic members of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), on Monday. This decision left the agency without a quorum, as there were only two commissioners remaining.

Burrows was serving her third term as commissioner, with her term set to end in 2028. She had previously held the position of EEOC chair. Samuels, on the other hand, was in her second term, with her tenure supposed to last through 2026.

Both Burrows and Samuels are now considering their legal options, with Samuels stating that her removal before the expiration of her Congressionally directed term is unprecedented and violates the law. She believes that the president's action represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the EEOC as an independent agency.

The EEOC is an independent agency that works to protect employees from discrimination. Its actions are aimed at ensuring equal opportunity and fair treatment in the workplace. Under federal law, no more than three individuals from the same political party can serve at the same time on the five-member commission.

Prior to Monday's removals, the agency already had a vacancy. On his first day in office, Trump named EEOC Commissioner Andrea Lucas, a Republican, as acting chair. The name of the new EEOC chair appointed by President Trump on the first day of his term was Victoria Lipnic.

Samuels stated that her removal undermines the stability and continuity of EEOC's critical work. Burrows echoed this sentiment, stating that the removal of her and Commissioner Samuels will undermine the efforts of the EEOC to protect employees from discrimination, support employers' compliance efforts, and expand public awareness and understanding of federal employment laws.

Trump's actions have also affected other independent agencies. On Monday, he also removed National Labor Relations Board Democratic member Gwynne Wilcox, leaving the entity without a quorum to hear and decide cases.

The removal of these commissioners has raised concerns about the independence of these agencies and their ability to carry out their duties effectively. Both Burrows and Samuels have said they will explore all available legal options to challenge their dismissals.