ATR Applauds Senate Letter on Julie Su, Presidential Succession

Thirty senators sent a letter to President Biden on Wednesday demanding accountability after the White House labeled Julie Su as part of the “order of succession to the Presidency” on their official website.

Americans for Tax Reform first reported on the White House’s addition of Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su to the Cabinet webpage of the White House website last month. Su, who has failed to earn confirmation from the Senate, is displayed as eleventh in the presidential line of succession despite acting officials being ineligible under the Presidential Succession Act of 1947.

The letter, led by Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), expresses “grave concerns” with the administration’s “apparent belief that Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su is eligible to assume the office of President of the United States.”

“While you and your Administration have clearly decided to ignore congressional intent in keeping Ms. Su in place in her current role, it would be unfortunate if you have decided to further discount congressional intent – and violate the law – by taking the position that Ms. Su is eligible for placement in the presidential line of succession,” the letter continues.

The senators note that Ms. Su has failed to be confirmed as Secretary of Labor “by and with the advice and consent of the Senate” and specify that officers must receive Senate confirmation prior to being eligible for the line of presidential succession by law. They urge the White House to “clarify its position and views regarding Ms. Su’s eligibility for the presidential line of succession and, in the event it was to become necessary, to assume the presidency.”

“As many of our Senate colleagues have done in the past, we again call upon you to withdraw Ms. Su’s nomination and put forward a nominee for Secretary of Labor who is capable of garnering sufficient support on a bipartisan basis to be confirmed,” the letter concludes.

In addition to Senator Britt, the letter was signed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.); Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.); Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Ranking Member Bill Cassidy (R-La.); and Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kans.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebr.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).

Americans for Tax Reform applauds Senator Britt and her 29 Senate colleagues for taking a stand against the Biden administration’s unprecedented lawlessness.