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Shaun Donovan confirmed to serve as OMB director

The last piece of Obama's Cabinet shakeup fell into place Thursday as the Senate confirmed Shaun Donovan to serve as director of the Office of Management and Budget.

By Gabrielle Levy
United States President Barack Obama, left, announces his nomination of current Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan as Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director, right, and his nomination of San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro (not pictured) to replace him at HUD in the state dining room of the White House in Washington, D.C. on Friday, May 23, 2014. UPI/Ron Sachs/Pool
United States President Barack Obama, left, announces his nomination of current Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan as Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director, right, and his nomination of San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro (not pictured) to replace him at HUD in the state dining room of the White House in Washington, D.C. on Friday, May 23, 2014. UPI/Ron Sachs/Pool | License Photo

WASHINGTON, July 10 (UPI) -- The Senate confirmed Shuan Donovan, the outgoing secretary of Housing and Urban Development, to his new post as director of the Office of Management and Budget Thursday.

Senators voted 75-22, with 23 Republicans joining with Democrats to support his nomination to the Cabinet-level position.

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Donovan will replace former OMB Director Sylvia Mathews Burwell, who took over as secretary of Health and Human Services from Kathleen Sebelius last month. On Wednesday, the Senate also confirmed San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro to serve as the new HUD secretary to replace Donovan.

Some Republicans, including several who eventually voted for Donovan's confirmation, expressed some reservations over answers Donovan gave to questions from the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Some of his answers were copied directly from President Obama's budget proposal, while others were identical to those submitted by Burwell in her nomination process last year.

Committee Chairman Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., said Donovan eventually resubmitted his answers.

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But Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, himself a former OMB director, said that while Donovan's "budget experience could be greater," "he is a bright guy."

Portman voted for Donovan's confirmation Thursday.

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