The FEC’s Investigation Backlog is Growing — With No End in Sight

The agency has been effectively shut down since last May as Trump — and now the Senate — has dithered.

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Douliery Olivier/Sipa USA USA

The chair of the Federal Election Commission confirmed a massive backlog of “pending enforcement matters” stemming from the de facto shutdown that has gripped the agency for nearly a year.

“As of December 2025, there were 190 pending enforcement matters,” Chairwoman Shana Broussard wrote in a social media post Monday. “Now, there are 195.”

The FEC has lacked the number of commissioners required for a quorum since May 1, 2025, leaving it unable to do much beyond publishing candidates’ financial disclosure reports and other basic tasks.