President Obama announced today chief of staff William Daley turned in his resignation. Budget Director Jack Lew will now be taking over the gig in his place, effective at the end of the month.
“No one in my administration has had to make more important decisions more quickly than Bill, and that’s why I think this decision is difficult for me,” Obama said during a press conference at the White House. “But in the end, the pull of the hometown we both love … was too great.”
Initially, when Daley turned in his notice last week, Obama said he made Daley think it over more. Daley ultimately stood by his decision to return to Chicago. No other specifics were really given, but he’s reportedly had a rocky relationship with Democrats for a while now.
Daley started working in the West Wing last January, replacing Rahm Emanuel, who first left the job to campaign for Chicago mayor — an office he later won.
Coincidentally, Daley’s brother and father formerly held the position of Chicago mayor.
Lew will be Obama’s third chief of staff.
Sarah Muller