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.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest says President 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.
Earnest says the administration is awaiting a review to determine whether more people will be leaving.
Pierson's resignation comes after a man with a knife made it deep into the White House.