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Following criticism over the implementation of Obama’s Affordable Care Act, Kathleen Sebelius is resigning as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Instead, Obama is appointing Sylvia Matthew Burwell, currently Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
During her tenure, which started in 2009, Sebelius oversaw the poor start-up of the Obamacare website, prompting intense criticism of both herself and Obama, particularly from Republicans in Congress. Although the website improved over time, Sebelius still weathered criticism over her performance.
In a note to her government employees, Sebelius reflected on the issue, saying, “I know that this law has been at the center of much debate and discourse in Washington, but what this enrollment demonstrates is that the Affordable Care Act is working and much needed.” This occurred following over 7 million in enrollment, the past target.
Additionally, Sebelius held multiple discussions with Obama in which she decided that the future provided an opportunity for better management of Obamacare, something she said she would not go on continuing with.
Following her decision to step down, her resignation was marked by heavily polarized feelings, with most Democrats applauding her work in contrast to the generally discontent Republicans.
Regardless of whether or not you support the Affordable Care Act itself, it’s important to leave politics out and deal with matters in a civil manner rather than creating uproars. It’s unrealistic to assume perfection from anybody, and perhaps worse to reject apologies. Further, the shutting down of the website had little to do with the actual policy itself, and if anything, its enrollment past the target of 7 million was instead reflective of its success as a policy, and possibly even as a website.
