President Joe Biden on Friday fired Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul, who was Trump appointed by Donald Trump, after he refused to submit his resignation as President Biden had requested.
The Washington Post reported that Biden had asked for the top two officials at the Social Security Administration to submit their resignations, but only Saul refused. Deputy Commissioner David Black, also a Trump appointee, resigned Friday upon request.
Saul had alienated crucial Democratic constituencies with policies designed to clamp down benefits and an uncompromising anti-union stance.
“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,” a White House official said, according to The Post.
Biden has appointed Kilolo Kijakazi as acting commissioner while the search for a commissioner and deputy commissioner is conducted.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
