President Joe Biden on July 9, 2021 fired the head of the Social Security Administration after the official, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, refused to resign.
The White House said the Social Security commissioner, Andrew Saul, “undermined and politicized” the agency’s benefits, among other things that warranted his firing. Saul’s deputy, David Black, who was also appointed by Trump, resigned on Friday at the White House’s request.
“Since taking office, Commissioner Saul has undermined and politicized Social Security disability benefits, terminated the agency’s telework policy that was utilized by up to 25 percent of the agency’s workforce, not repaired SSA’s relationships with relevant Federal employee unions including in the context of COVID-19 workplace safety planning, reduced due process protections for benefits appeals hearings, and taken other actions that run contrary to the mission of the agency and the President’s policy agenda,” the White House said.
Saul remains defiant and vows to fight the discharge. Upon being informed of his ouster Friday, Saul insisted that his firing was unconstitutional and threatened to sue.
Source: CNBC; Los Angeles Times
