Madison Kwiecinski

News Editor 

Mvk5945@psu.edu 

Dr. Mehmet OZ, best known as the host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” was asked by the Biden Administration to resign from his position on the President’s Council on Sports Fitness, and Nutrition or be terminated. Herschel Walker, another member of the council and former football star, was asked the same thing or would be terminated by the end of the day. 

Former President Donald Trump, in December of 2020, reappointed both Oz and Walker to the President’s Council under two-year terms. Both Oz and Walker are Republicans who are currently running for elected office. 

The Biden Administration policy prohibits  candidates who are running for federal office to serve on boards or commissions to the President, said a White House official. Dr. Oz is currently running for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania, while Walker is a candidate in Georgia’s upcoming elections. 

Dr. Oz posted the contents of the letter he received on Twitter, maintaining he would refuse to resign. Oz also stated, “The doctor he should ask to resign is Anthony Fauci for a multitude of reasons.” An unsurprising stance, as conservatives have criticized Dr. Fauci, Biden’s Chief Medical Adviser, handling of the COVID-19 pandemic for months. 

“On behalf of President Biden, I am writing to request your resignation as a Member of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition,” read the letter, “Please submit your resignation to me by the end of the close of business today. Should we not receive your resignation, your position with the Council will be terminated effective 6:00 pm tonight.” 

The tweet Dr. Oz issued not only included the entire letter, but also heavily criticized President Biden’s choice to remove him from the council. He reiterated his refusal to resign several times, though that means his termination will have occurred automatically at 6:00 p.m. the day he received the letter. 

The White House did not call for their resignation out of a desire for partisan politics, but rather because the Biden Administration believes candidates cannot serve in specially selected positions while also running in partisan elections without violating the Hatch Act. CNN reported that members of the council are considered special government employees and, according to the Hatch Act “may not be candidates in partisan elections.” 

The same day Oz and Walkers termination letters were sent the White House announced the appointment of two new members to the council. Philanthropist and Chef José Andrés and WNBA player Elena Delle Donne were appointed co-chairs of the council.