Biden Fires Trump Appointee as Head of Social Security Administration
The dismissal, the latest effort by President Biden to oust a Trump-appointed director of an independent executive agency, could set off a legal showdown over who rightfully holds the position.
Andrew Saul testifying before the Senate Finance Committee in 2018, during his confirmation hearing to be the agency’s commissioner.Credit...Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
July 9, 2021, 7:40 p.m. ET
President Biden fired President Donald J. Trump’s appointed head of the Social Security Administration on Friday, setting off a possible legal showdown over who rightfully holds the position.
Mr. Biden asked on Friday morning for the resignations of Andrew Saul, the agency’s commissioner, and David Black, a deputy commissioner. Mr. Black resigned as requested, but Mr. Saul refused and was notified by the administration that he had been fired, an administration official said. He has vowed to fight Mr. Biden’s move as illegal.