Eric Lander, the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), resigned from his post on Feb. 7 following reports that he bullied and demeaned his subordinates.
A two-month White House investigation found “credible evidence” that Lander had violated workplace policy, according to reporting from Politico.
After the investigation broke, Lander apologized to his staff for his “disrespectful or demeaning” behavior. Initially, the White House said Lander would remain in his post and be monitored for corrective actions, but Lander submitted his letter of resignation on Monday night.
“It has been a great honor to serve as your Science Advisor and to work with the extraordinarily talented career and non-career colleagues at the Office of Science and Technology Policy,” Lander wrote in a letter to President Biden. “I am devastated that I caused hurt to past and present colleagues by the way in which I have spoken to them.”
Lander’s resignation will take effect no later than Feb. 18, according to the letter.
“The President accepted Dr. Eric Lander’s resignation letter this evening with gratitude for his work at OSTP on the pandemic, the Cancer Moonshot, climate change, and other key priorities,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement Monday night.
