The Senate confirmed Jeffrey Zients as chief performance officer and deputy director of management at the Office of Management and Budget. In a blog post, OMB Director Peter Orszag said Zients' responsibilities will include "reforming government hiring practices" as well as working on "contracting reform, program evaluation, and e-government."

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved Jeffrey Zients' nomination as the nation's first chief performance officer. The next step is confirmation by the full Senate.

The president picked management consultant and entrepreneur Jeffrey Zients as chief performance officer and deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Killefer withdrew from consideration as the nation's first CPO. In her letter to the president, she cited tax problems with the District of Columbia.

Obama created a new position, chief performance officer, to cut government waste and inefficiency. Appointee Nancy Killefer is also designated deputy director for management with the Office of Management and Budget. "During the campaign, I said that we must scour this budget line by line, eliminating what we don't need or what doesn't work, and improving the things that do," Obama said. "Working with Peter Orszag and Rob Nabors at the Office of Management and Budget, Nancy Killefer is uniquely qualified to lead that effort." Jim Flyzik, who worked under Killefer in the Clinton Treasury Department, said she will use information technology as an executive tool to improve government programs and efficiently route taxpayer money.