U.S. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius resigns

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

U.S. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius resigns
(Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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.

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Lauren Hansen

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.