Trump announced in July that he wanted to appoint Severino to the advisory board, and Severino received his commission just over two weeks ago. He argued that the council is separate from any executive and that the president does not have the authority to dismiss him at will. When the White House asked for a reason for his termination, the White House did not respond.
“The Council does not exercise any executive power – indeed it has no power as a purely advisory entity. President Biden therefore has no constitutional power to terminate Mr Severino or any other member of the Council,” the lawsuit said. . .
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this article.
The case comes as the Biden government works to obliterate political holders of the Trump presidency who still work in the executive branch. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expelled members of 31 defense advisory boards appointed in the twilight days of Trump’s presidency. Other members of defense advisory boards, including those appointed by Trump himself, are currently being reviewed.
Severino previously served as head of the civil rights office of the Department of Health and Human Services, where he intensified the protection of health workers who objected to abortions for religious reasons and defended the protection of LGBT patients.