The Administration made a major announcement at the end of last week: Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Kathleen Sebelius, will be stepping down. Sebelius’ legacy will certainly be tied to the rocky implementation of the Affordable Care Act. After months of issues with the website, Sebelius’ announcement comes soon after a positive milestone with the enrollment period coming to an end and 7.5 million people signed up.

The President is nominating Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Sylvia Mathews Burwell to replace Sebelius. Burwell has significant experience, having held several positions in the Clinton administration. Burwell was unanimously confirmed by the Senate to head the OMB a year ago but it can only be assumed that the confirmation hearings this time around will be more contentious and may be more about the Affordable Care Act than Burwell herself.

According to Politico, “Burwell will undergo hearings in both the Finance Committee and the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee, though the confirmation vote will be held in Finance. A committee aide said the panel’s chairman, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), plans to schedule a hearing soon after it receives Burwell’s nomination materials. A committee vote seems likely in early May.  Her nomination will probably face a full floor confirmation vote in late May or early June, since the Senate isn’t likely to shuffle its immediate schedule for her confirmation. White House press secretary Jay Carney said Friday he is anticipating a “May transition” for Burwell to HHS.” http://www.politico.com/story/2014/04/sylvia-mathews-burwell-democrats-obamacare-affordable-care-act-105641.html#ixzz2yrbqCwv1

For more on Sebelius’ retirement from HHS and Burwell’s nomination see below:

Burwell Bio: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/organization_office