Biden fires head of Social Security Administration, a Trump holdover who drew the ire of Democrats
President Biden on Friday fired Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul, a holdover from the Trump administration who had alienated crucial Democratic constituencies with policies designed to clamp down on benefits and an uncompromising anti-union stance.
Biden named Kilolo Kijakazi, the current deputy commissioner for retirement and disability policy, to serve as acting commissioner until the White House identifies a permanent nominee to lead the agency.
As the head of an independent agency whose leadership does not normally change with a new administration, Saul’s six-year term was supposed to last until January 2025.
The White House said a recent Supreme Court ruling, followed by a Justice Department memo on Thursday affirming the president’s authority “to remove the SSA Commissioner at will,” gave the president power to treat the position like that of other traditional political appointments.
But Saul said in an interview Friday afternoon that he would not leave his post, challenging the legality of the White House move to oust him.
Share Post
Recent news
Long COVID Sufferers Are Seeking Disability Benefits. Will They Change the System?
For Chantelle James, a registered nurse who lives in the suburbs of Austin, Texas, the push to keep worker's compensation and receive short-term disability benefits has been demoralizing. In August 2020, the 43-year-old tested positive...
With Covid Delays, You May Die Waiting for Disability Benefits
Jade Dunham was 15 when she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Since then, she says, she has been on “almost every medication on the market for my condition.” The disease is chronic and debilitating, and...
Disability appeals take months, sometimes years, just for a hearing
People are left waiting for years, sometimes even decades, to receive government benefits they’ve paid into their whole life. Disability claimants who have their cases denied and have to go through the appeals process often...
