The resignation of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is expected to be the focus of Sunday political shows.
Sebelius announced Friday that she would step down from President Obama’s cabinet, ceding her role as the top official in charge of ObamaCare’s implementation.
Her long-expected departure comes just two weeks after the end of ObamaCare’s first enrollment period, which culminated in the administration enrolling 7.5 million people in the exchanges despite a rocky start.
Here’s the Sunday show lineup:
“Fox News Sunday” will discuss Sebelius’ departure with Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, (D-R.I.), two members of the Senate committee that will vote on the confirmation of Sylvia Mathews Burwell, the outgoing White House budget official poised to replace Sebelius. Burwell will have a lot on her plate in one of the toughest cabinet-level jobs. While she’s likely to see a smooth confirmation vote, some Republicans have cast doubt on her level of healthcare-specific experience.
“CBS’ Face the Nation” will sit down with Reps. Marsha Blackburn, (R-Tenn.) and Elijah Cummings, (D-Md.) to talk about the impact Sebelius’ resignation will have on the future of ObamaCare. Cummings has been a staunch supporter of Obama’s signature healthcare law while Blackburn, who is testing the waters for a potential 2016 presidential bid, has been one of its most outspoken critics in Congress.
NBC’s “Meet the Press” will present a roundtable discussion on the Boston Marathon bombings, which took place on April 15, 2013. The panel will include Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and former Boston police commissioner Ed Davis. A separate political roundtable will discuss Sebelius’s resignation, among other topics.
CNN’s “State of the Union” will focus on the midterm elections, where ObamaCare is expected to play a major role. Reps. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) and Greg Walden (R-Ore.), who lead the parties’ congressional campaign committees, will discuss their prospects for this year and what their sides expect to highlight on the campaign trail. The show will also touch on the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
ABC’s This Week will cover a mix of healthcare, politics and international affairs. Apart from a panel discussion on Sebelius’s departure, the show will feature an interview with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a potential 2016 White House candidate who spoke to a conservative summit in New Hampshire on Saturday. United Nations Ambassador Samantha Powers and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) will also be interviewed.