Obama fires head of US Minerals Management Service in wake of Gulf oil spill

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AP sources: Minerals Management Service head fired

WASHINGTON — Democratic sources say the Obama administration has fired the head of the U.S. Minerals Management Service in response to blistering criticism over lax oversight of offshore drilling.

The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity before the official announcement, tell The Associated Press that President Barack Obama will announce the decision Thursday.

Elizabeth “Liz” Birnbaum had run the service in the Interior Department since July 2009.