WASHINGTON -- Secret Service Director Julia Pierson has resigned amid security lapses at the White House.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Wednesday that Pierson offered her resignation, and he accepted it.
The move came one day after her appearance before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in a congressional hearing focused on recent security lapses at the White House.
Pierson had worked at the Secret Service for 30 years.
The White House says President Barack Obama believes it was in the best interest of the Secret Service for Pierson to resign.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest says Obama concluded that new leadership of the agency was required. He says Obama called Pierson on Wednesday to thank her for her service to the Secret Service and to the U.S.
Earnest says Obama has full confidence in Joseph Clancy. He's the former special agent taking over as acting Secret Service director.
Pierson's resignation comes after a man with a knife made it deep into the White House.
