Obama To Nominate Sylvia Burwell Of Walmart Foundation As Budget Chief

On Monday, President Obama will nominate Sylvia Mathews Burwell, currently head of the Walmart Foundation, as his next budget director, a White House official said.

If confirmed by the Senate, Burwell would take over the Office of Management and Budget during a time of intense budget debates between the administration and Republicans in Congress.

The Associated Press has more on Burwell:

"Burwell is a Washington veteran, having served as OMB's deputy director in the Clinton administration and chief of staff to former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin. Burwell currently runs the Walmart Foundation, the retail giant's philanthropic wing, and previously served as president of the Gates Foundation's Global Development Program.

The official credited Burwell with being a principal architect of a series of budget plans in the 1990s that led to a budget surplus.

Walmart president Mike Duke called Burwell a strong leader with a "clear vision for making big things happen."

"She understands business and the role that business, government and civil society must play to build a strong economy that provides opportunity and strengthens communities across the country," Duke said in a statement."

Burwell would replace acting OMB director Jeffrey Zients.