Biden fires Trump-nominated Social Security commissioner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday fired Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul, a holdover from the Trump administration, but Saul told the Washington Post helium plans to beryllium astatine enactment connected Monday greeting due to the fact that his word isn’t over.

“Andrew Saul refused to resign arsenic requested, and helium was notified his employment arsenic Commissioner was terminated immediately,” said a White House official, who spoke connected information of anonymity.

The authoritative said Saul had taken “actions that tally contrary to the ngo of the bureau and the President’s argumentation agenda.” Among Saul’s actions that the authoritative cited were politicizing Social Security disability benefits, ending the agency’s telework argumentation and not repairing its narration with national worker unions.

Nominated by erstwhile President Donald Trump, Saul successful 2019 was sworn successful for a six-year term. Saul told the Post: “I see myself the term-protected Commissioner of Social Security.”

Deputy Commissioner David Black, besides a Trump appointee, was asked to resign and complied, the White House authoritative said.

Biden has appointed Kilolo Kijakazi arsenic acting commissioner portion the hunt for a commissioner and lawman commissioner is conducted, the authoritative said. Kijakazi is presently the lawman commissioner for status and disablement argumentation astatine the agency.

The Social Security Administration, which oversees programs that supply fiscal enactment to the aged and disabled, referred questions astir Saul and Black to the White House.

An effort to scope Saul was unsuccessful.

Senate Republican person Mitch McConnell said successful a tweet anterior to the announcement that firing Saul would beryllium “an unprecedented and unsafe politicization of the Social Security Administration.”

But Democratic Representative Bill Pascrell, president of the House Ways and Means subcommittee overseeing the agency, applauded their removal. “They’ve been trying to destroy Social Security,” helium said connected Twitter.

Saul’s arsenic a businessman has been wide spouse of concern steadfast Saul Partners and managed 2 retail apparel chains.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Writing by Eric Beech; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)