Peter R. Orszag, who brought a strong retirement perspective to his job as budget director in the Obama administration, will leave the White House later this summer, several news organizations reported last week.
“Basically, the OMB Director is a brutal job and subject to quick burnout. I wouldn’t read any more into this than that,” wrote David Dayen on the newsblog, firedoglake, by way of explanation. Orszag’s impending departure was first rumored last April.
According to the Washington Post, likely candidates for appointment to the post of director of the Office of Management and Budget include (in order of probability):
Laura D. Tyson, former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers in the Clinton administration who currently teaches at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.
John Berry, head of the Office of Personnel Management.
Rob Nabors, who served as Orszag’s deputy before joining White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel’s office to focus on special projects.
Gene Sperling, a senior adviser to Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and a top economic official in the Clinton administration.
Robert Greenstein, director of the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. He served on the Bipartisan Commission on Entitlement and Tax Reform during the Clinton administration.
Byron Dorgan, North Dakota’s retiring Democratic senator.
Jeffrey Liebman, an economist with expertise on poverty, pensions and Social Security.
Jeffrey Zients, an official who has orchestrated high-profile cost savings initiatives in recent months, including planned federal hiring reforms and plans to cut $8 billion in federal building costs.
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