Biden fires Trump-appointed Social Security Administration chief

President Joe Biden on Friday fired Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul after he refused a request to resign, a White House official told NBC News.

Saul, who was appointed to lead the agency by President Donald Trump, was notified that his employment was terminated immediately, according to the official.

The Washington Post was first to report news of Saul’s firing.

“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 official said.

Biden also asked for the resignation of David Black, the agency’s deputy commissioner, who did resign, the official said.