Biden’s Latest Move Backfires as Trump Appointee Firing Creates New Headache

     Biden’s Firing of Trump Appointee Backfires Big Time 

Back in 2021, Roger Severino got the boot from his role on an independent federal agency  thanks to President Biden. Now, years later, that firing has come full circle, setting a precedent that allows Trump to do the same thing to Biden appointees. Talk about unintended consequences. 

Severino, who was let go before his term ended, sued the Biden administration right away, arguing that his removal wasn’t legal. Fast forward to now, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has ruled in a way that basically reinforces a president’s power to fire appointees at so-called “independent agencies.” 

The White House is happy about the ruling, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying it’s just a reminder that presidents have the authority to hire and fire as they see fit within their executive power. But Severino is equally pleased because, in his view, this decision helps restore the president’s control over the government. 

Severino was originally appointed to the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) by Trump in 2020. But when Biden took over, he cleaned house and dismissed Severino along with other Trump appointees  a first in ACUS history. Severino fired back with a lawsuit just over a day after losing his job. 

His goal? To make sure the rules were crystal clear for future presidents. Now, with Trump back in office, those rules could allow him to purge Biden holdovers from key agencies without legal headaches. 

Legal experts say this decision weakens a long-standing 1935 Supreme Court ruling that limits a president’s ability to fire independent agency officials. Severino believes that ruling is on its last legs and could soon be overturned. 

For Severino, it all boils down to ensuring that the people working in the executive branch align with the president’s policies. With this ruling, Trump now has a clear path to reshuffle the federal workforce and remove anyone he sees as a roadblock. 

In short, Biden’s move to get rid of Severino may have just handed Trump even more power to shape the government his way. Talk about a political boomerang.