Conway, who served under Trump, described the request as "petty and political, if not personal" and said it will discourage faithful and willing public servants from serving the country. She added that its aim is reportedly to distract the public from a series of problems the Biden administration has recently faced.
"Your decision is disappointing but understandable given the need to distract from a news cycle that has you mired in multiple self-inflicted crises and plummeting poll numbers, including a rise in new COVID cases, a dismal jobs report, inflation, a record amount of drugs coming across the southern border, and, of course, the chaotic and deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan that has left hundreds of Americans and thousands of Afghan allies stranded under Taliban rule,” Conway wrote before adding: “I’m not resigning, but you should."
'Unprecedented Purge'
Jonathan Hiler, member of the Naval Academy board, who also received a request to resign, said he doesn’t understand the "basis for this purge".
"A plain reading of the statute that created the Board in 1879, which includes traditionally bipartisan appointments by congressional leaders, says the president’s appointees serve three-year terms. To my knowledge, the Service Academy Boards have always enjoyed a tradition of bi-partisanship," he said.
Refusal to Comply
"For 22 years I’ve had the honour of serving alongside some of the most talented, patriotic and brave individuals this country has to offer. I’m a proud graduate of the US Naval War College. I’ve done multiple tours and politics has never entered into my service. I’ve served under five different presidents of both parties. As officers, we take an oath to the constitution, not to a party. Don't you dare ever minimise or question my service to this nation. You got it? Not one Obama appointee on these boards when [Donald] Trump came in. This move has taken partisanship to a new level," Spicer said adding that he and other members of the boards will challenge the decision in court.