President Barack Obama announced his nomination to succeed Kathleen Sebelius on Friday as the Health Secretary, the day after Sebelius handed in her resignation.
Obama chose Sylvia Mathews Burwell, who currently is the director of the Office of Management and Budget to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, reports the Los Angeles Times.
Burwell will now have to take over the continuing implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the president said there was "no manager as experienced and competent" to do just that. "Sylvia was a rock, a steady hand on the wheel" during the 2013 government shutdown.
Though Republicans will likely use the confirmation hearings to bash the ACA to score political points ahead of elections, Burwell has some support already in the GOP. Sen. John McCain spoke positively about her nomination for the post.
Burwell's nomination comes only a day after Sebelius unexpectedly resigned. She has been the Health Secretary for the past five years and had overseen the tumultuous rollout of the ACA and the HealthCare.gov website.
The 65-year-old Sebelius' resignation seemingly came out of nowhere, but officials say that it was her choice and she was not forced out. The news was a surprise for her longtime colleague Sandy Praeger, who is the Kansas Insurance Commission, who noted that at a recent dinner together, Sebelius appeared ready to continue on with the ACA rollout.