White House fires chief usher Angella Reid

Oct. 18, 2011: The then-incoming White House chief usher Angella Reid is photographed in Lafayette Park across from the White House in Washington. (AP)

The White House has fired chief usher Angella Reid, a White House official confirmed to Fox News Friday.

Reid was the first woman to hold the position. The Washington Post first reported Reid’s departure, and that White House residence staff arrived at work Friday to be told she was no longer employed.

A White House official confirmed to Fox News that Reid, who was the second African-American to hold the position, is “no longer working” at the White House.

“We are very grateful for her service and wish her the very best,” the official said.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the White House and Reid had parted ways on good terms.

The usher is responsible for the day-to-day management of the White House. The White House Historical Association says the title comes from the original role of ushering people in to meet the president, but over time the role has evolved to cover construction, food, and maintenance as well as personnel and administrative duties.

Reid took the role in 2011 during the Obama administration, replacing Adm. Stephen Rochon -- who was the first African-American to hold the role when he was appointed in 2007.

The Post reports that the job normally involves a long tenure and that it is unusual for a White House to fire a chief usher. Rochon, for instance, only left the job to take a role at the Department of Homeland Security. Rochon in turn had replaced Gary Walters, who retired after serving in the post since 1986.

Fox News’ Wes Barrett contributed to this report.