Senate confirms Lew as OMB director

Jacob Lew has been confirmed by the Senate as the new director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Lew's nomination passed on a voice vote late Nov. 18 after it had been held up by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) over to objections to the Obama administration’s oil drilling moratorium. By lifting her hold on the selection, Landrieu allowed the confirmation to pass.  

Nominated by President Barack Obama in July, Lew was serving as the deputy secretary for management and resources at the State Department and as the department’s chief operating officer. This is Lew’s second time around as OMB director. The first time was from 1998 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton.