White House official with critical race theory links steps down after family death
Politico reported this week that a senior White House figure will be leaving the Biden administration.
According to the website, Office of Personnel Management Director Kiran Ahuja revealed that she plans to step down early next month.
Ahuja was "very intent on wanting to serve the president well through this term"
Ahuja explained in a statement that her decision to resign is the result of a health concern as well as the recent death of a family member.
"I was, from the day of being nominated, very intent on wanting to serve the president well through this term, and that was a commitment that I had made," Ahuja was quoted as saying.
"But I think at times, as they say, life intervenes," the administration official said before adding, "It [took] a lot for me to leave … it is really, truly these personal extenuating circumstances."
Jason Miller serves as the deputy director for management at the White House's Office of Management and Budget, and Politico noted that he issued a statement of his own concerning Ahuja's departure.
Republicans cited critical theory ties in opposing Ahuja's confirmation
"Director Ahuja's passion for public service shines through every single day, inspiring those around her and serving as a model for leaders across the federal government," Miller declared.
Politico reported that Ahuja's role will be filled on an acting basis by Deputy Director Rob Shriver until a permanent replacement can be confirmed.
Ahuja's 2021 nomination was met with opposition from Republicans, who brought up her connections with critical race theory.
Fox News reported that in 2018, Ahuja's nonprofit Philanthropy Northwest hosted Ibram X. Kendi, author of "How to Be an Antiracist."
Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley quoted a passage from the book which read, "The only remedy to past discrimination is present discrimination. The only remedy to present discrimination is future discrimination."
Director oversaw effort to prevent Trump from implementing Schedule F
"I'm concerned that as the federal government's HR director, Ms. Ahuja could use her platform to promote radical ideologies that seek to divide rather than unite the American people," Hawley declared.
Politico also noted that under Ahuja, the Office of Personnel Management has created a new set of rules meant to sabotage former President Donald Trump's planned Schedule F executive order.
The executive order would strip civil service protections from a large number of government employees and allow them to be unilaterally fired.
