President Joe Biden is continuing to politicize and hijack non-partisan military boards by demanding the resignation or firing of 12 Trump appointees. This includes Trump White House press secretary Sean Spicer, former National Security Adviser H.R McMaster, and former Counsellor to President Kellyanne Conway. White House press secretary Jen Psaki even confirmed the request that was made, adding that the president wants to ensure he has people serving on the boards who are aligned with his values.
“I will let others evaluate whether they think Kellyanne Conway and Sean Spicer and others were qualified, or not political, to serve on these boards, but the President’s qualification requirements are not your party registration, they are whether you’re qualified to serve and whether you’re aligned with the values of this administration,” Psaki said.
Russ Vought, another Trump official, has also been asked to resign. He posted a photo of the request he received from the White House writing back “no” and “it’s a three-year term.”
Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office Cathy Russell sent letters to members of the Air Force Academy, Military Academy, and Naval Academy, asking on their formal resignation by the end of the day or they would be terminated.
“On behalf of President Biden, I am writing to request your resignation as a member of the Board of Visitors to the U.S. Naval Academy. Please submit your resignation to me by the close of business today,” read the letter sent Wednesday by the White House personnel office. Should we not receive your resignation, your position with the board will be terminated effective 6 p.m. tonight. Thank you,” the email reads.
Conway has also pushed back against the resignation, adding that she’s not resigning but believes Biden should. She called it a “disappointing but understandable” effort to distract people from the disastrous U.S withdrawal from Afghanistan, plummeting presidential numbers, and disappointing August jobs report.
Jonathan Hiler, who served as director of legislative affairs for Vice President Mike Pence said he was not resigning and believes that the developing leaders should not be consumed by partisan politics. He said that President Biden clearly feels differently about that and will do anything to distract the American people from how he handled Afghanistan.
It’s unclear whether or not the president can fire members before their time is up, but it’s not a surprise to some of the members. Sean Spicer, another member with a big target on his back, has also been asked for his resignation. He continues to host “Spicer & Co” on conservative news channel Newsmax TV and even has a new book coming out. The book questions Biden’s leadership and is called “Radical Nation: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s Dangerous Plan for America.”
According to the U.S Code, a president designates six persons to the Board of Visitors for three years, unless they die or resign. There is nothing that indicates terminating members of the board before their time is up.
But President Joe Biden is doing all he can to play politics and purge the military boards of any former Trump appointees. Even if it means breaking the rules.
