Posted on 07/12/21
| News Source: i24
Trump appointee Andrew Saul, whose term of office was supposed to run until 2025, says move is "illegal"
New York Jewish businessman Andrew Saul, who is currently the Social Security Administration Commissioner vowed to fight his firing at the hands of US President Joe Biden, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA).
Saul, whom former President Donald Trump appointed and who was confirmed in the post in 2019, made the comment about refusing to be ousted to the Washington Post last week.
Biden's rationale for the summary firing was that it is felt within the department that Saul is thwarting changes - presumably tied to the notion of "equity" - that the administration wishes to implement.
Democrats, government unions, and advocates for the disabled and the elderly had all pressed for the removal of Saul, reported JTA.
“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 said in a statement to the Post.
Saul, whose term of office was supposed to run until 2025 has labeled his attempted removal "illegal. Indeed, Minority Senate Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) maintained that the firing "politicized" the agency.