Kathleen Sibelius Confirmed as Head of HHS

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has been confirmed by the Senate to be the next head of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

The DHHS was the last unfilled cabinet-level secretary position, in part because Obama's first choice for HHS chief, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), withdrew from consideration on February 3rd amid controversy over tens of thousands of dollars in federal income taxes that he failed to pay on time.

DHHS is arguably one of the more important departments in the federal government. The DHHS critical mission includes protecting our nation’s health and providing essential human services. In addition, it oversees such agencies as the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and of course the National Institutes of Health.