Washington -- The U.S. Senate confirmed Jacob J. Lew as director of the White House's Office of Management and Budget by a voice vote Thursday night.
Lew succeeds Peter Orszag, who headed President Barack Obama's budget team until his departure in July.
Lew held the same position in the administration of President Bill Clinton from 1998 to 2001. Most recently, he was deputy secretary of state for management and resources in the Obama administration.
Obama cited wide bipartisan support for the nominee.
"[Lew] brings unparalleled experience and wisdom to this important job at a critical time in our nation's history," the president said in a statement. "After years of irresponsibility in Washington, we need to make the tough choices to put our country back on a sustainable fiscal path and lay the foundation for long-term job creation and economic growth. We need to cut waste where we find it and create a government that is efficient, effective, and responsive to the American people."
