GSA Firing: The Details

In an appearance on Federal News Radio this morning, ex-GSA Administrator Lurita Doan provided some more details on her firing earlier this week, and her reaction to it.

Tuesday evening, Doan said, she was summoned to her first-ever meeting at the White House, with Bush's chief of staff, Joshua Bolten, and White House Counsel Fred Fielding. Here's how she described it:

Less than 30 seconds into the meeting, I was told the White House was requesting my resignation. I tell you, it was humbling and frankly, it was bizarre. Naturally, I immediately stated, "I serve at the pleasure of the president," and I immediately gave my resignation.

I was surprised to be told that from the White House point of view, I was considered, and this is a direct quote, a "distraction to progress at GSA." I know I have had a high profile, and I know I've taken very public, very vocal stands on a lot of very contentious issues. You know, I've been a tiger on procurement, of course, I love talking about telework, my passion is talking about expanding and working on expanding our ports of entry and making opportunities for small business. But I saw that as my job.

I have to say, I don't think this was about Doan's position on telework. And it's pretty clear at this point it wasn't about allegations she violated the Hatch Act more than a year ago. But that didn't stop the New York Times editorial page from pushing that notion in today's edition.

Stay tuned to GovernmentExecutive.com Monday for a full interview with Doan.