Following the looming departure of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, President Barack Obama announced on Friday that he will nominate Sylvia Mathews Burwell to take her place, CNN reported.
Burwell, 48, has been serving as the director of the Office of Management and Budget since April 2013. Prior to that, she worked on top of the Walmart Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and former President Bill Clinton's administration.
Earlier this month, Sebelius sent a letter to department employees notifying them of her decision to step down from what she called "the cause of her life" on Friday. She also acknowledged "the progress we've made, together" on Obamacare, but also stated "our work is far from over."
"I know that this law has been at the center of much debate and discourse in Washington, but what this enrollment demonstrates is that the Affordable Care Act is working and much needed," she said in the letter.
The president thanked Sebelius for her work, saying she will "go down in history" for serving at a time when the U.S. "finally declared that quality, affordable health care" would be a right for every citizen.
"She's got bumps, I've got bumps, bruises," Obama said. "But we did it because we knew of all the people we met across the country who had lost a home, had put off care, had decided to stay with a job instead of start a business because they were uncertain about their health care situation."
"I will miss her advice. I will miss her friendship. I will miss her wit," Obama said.
