Oversight Republicans: President Biden continues a pattern of political gamesmanship to purge Trump appointees from the government

The firings of military academy board members by the Biden Administration were unprecedented and possibly unlawful

WASHINGTON – Today, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) and Oversight Republicans sent a letter to the Office of Presidential Personnel Director Catherine Russell requesting all documents and communications related to President Biden’s recent decision to abruptly fire all eighteen Trump-appointed board members on the Air Force Academy, Military Academy, and Naval Academy Board of Advisors. In light of these unprecedented and possibly unlawful political firings, the lawmakers are seeking to understand the process and legal basis behind the Biden Administration’s decision.  

“On September 8, 2021, you demanded the resignation of all eighteen President Trump-appointed advisory board members from our military service academies. Board members refusing to resign were considered fired at 6:00 p.m. that same day. We are unaware of any such action taken by a prior President or Administration,” wrote the lawmakers. “With these firings, President Biden continues a pattern of political gamesmanship to purge Trump appointees from the government. In this case, the firings are not only unprecedented but potentially a violation of law. The eighteen board members you discharged have had their positions terminated within their respective three-year terms; thus, the legal ground for the firings is both uncertain and untested… The firings of academy board members are yet another example of the Biden Administration’s mismanagement of and disregard for our armed forces.”

Read the letter to Director Russell here.