A coalition of Democratic senators is pressing the White House to dismiss its election security director, arguing that his temporary appointment has run afoul of legal time limits.
In a letter sent Monday to top White House officials, the lawmakers accused Kurt Olsen, a special government employee (SGE), of serving beyond the 130-day annual cap permitted for such roles. “The public record is clear that Mr. Kurt Olsen’s service as a special government employee has exceeded the legal limits for such appointments and, therefore, should come to an end immediately,” they wrote.
President Donald Trump tapped Olsen last October to oversee election security and integrity at the White House. The Democratic senators noted that Olsen has now served over 200 days, far surpassing the statutory limit. “It is past time to end this temporary appointment or provide a full explanation of how his continued service is legally justified, including Mr. Olsen’s exact dates of service,” the letter added.
The correspondence, spearheaded by California Senator Alex Padilla, was addressed to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Personnel Office Director Dan Scavino, and Counsel David Warrington.
A White House official responded Tuesday, stating that Olsen “is actively an SGE.” The official added, “President Trump’s entire exceptional team is in lockstep with the President and working together to prioritize election integrity.”
Democrats have long opposed Olsen’s appointment, citing his history of advancing claims that the 2020 election was stolen. The attorney was a key figure in the “Stop the Steal” movement following Trump’s loss to Joe Biden. In October, Senate Democrats expressed “serious concern” that Olsen might push Trump to “attempt a national emergency declaration to illegally claim unconstitutional federal powers over state and local election administration.”
In Monday’s letter, the lawmakers argued those fears have materialized, pointing to the FBI’s raid on a Georgia election center and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s investigation into voting machines used in Puerto Rico in 2024. “To avoid further destabilizing — and potentially illegal — activities, Mr. Olsen should be immediately removed from his SGE role and the Administration should refrain from appointing him to any other federal position with any involvement in past or future elections,” they wrote.
This push comes amid a broader Democratic effort to tighten election security oversight. The party has been vocal about concerns over election integrity, with some lawmakers linking Olsen’s role to broader issues of federal overreach. As Trump’s approval ratings slip, the controversy adds another layer to the ongoing debate over election administration.
