President Obama also filled a top economic post with the nomination of Sylvia Mathews Burwell to head the White House Office of Management and Budget.

President Obama: “Sylvia knows her way around a budget. But as the granddaughter of Greek immigrants, she also understands that our goal when we put together a budget is not just to make the numbers add up. Our goal is also to reignite the true engine of economic growth in this country, and that is a strong and growing middle class.”

Mathews Burwell currently heads the Walmart Foundation, the retail giant’s charity. Wal-Mart critics say the company has leveraged its donations to attract support for expanding its stores and deflect critical scrutiny.