Overview

• On February 28 the Democratic National, Senatorial and Congressional Campaign Committees sued, arguing Executive Order 14215 violated federal election law by making the president’s and attorney general’s legal views controlling for FEC employees.
• Judge Ali found that the committees did not demonstrate a concrete and imminent injury, citing Supreme Court precedent that parties must show a changed relationship with the FEC to have standing.
• In his 14-page opinion, the judge noted White House lawyers had affirmed the administration would not apply the executive order to direct FEC activity or influence how commissioners vote.
• Executive Order 14215 sought to broaden executive oversight of independent agencies such as the FEC, NLRB and SEC by centralizing decision-making authority in the White House.
• Established in 1974, the FEC enforces campaign finance laws with a six-member bipartisan commission that requires at least four votes to issue official policy interpretations.