The head of the Department of Health and Social Services has resigned.

Commissioner Karleen Jackson gave the department's 3,500 employees one day's notice of her departure.

Jackson wrote in an e-mail to staff that her resignation is effective today.

She said Bill Hogan, Deputy Commissioner for Family, Community and Integrated Services, will serve as acting commissioner.

Jackson did not give a reason for her resignation and was not immediately available for comment.

Jackson was first appointed to the post in 2006 by former Gov. Frank Murkowski. She was one of only two of his cabinet appointees to keep their jobs under Gov. Sarah Palin.

More recently Jackson has come under fire from Republican legislators over spending within the department.

(Associated Press)