U.S. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius resigns
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
It hasn't exactly been a swimming five years for Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of Health and Human Services. Most recently, the 65-year-old took the blame for the disastrous ObamaCare rollout in October that included a website meltdown. Testifying before a congressional committee, Sebelius said, "Hold me accountable for the debacle. I'm responsible."
According to the New York Times, Sebelius approached President Obama last month to suggest that the March 31 sign-up deadline was a nice opportunity for a change, giving the White House a chance to appoint someone with less of a political target on her back to oversee the administration's signature legislative achievement.
Obama accepted Sebelius' resignation this week, and on Friday will reportedly nominate Sylvia Mathews Burwell, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, to replace her.
Article continues belowThe Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.
