IN FOCUS - Jan. 31, 2025

This week brought a staffing shakeup to the Hobbs administration as the Governor’s Budget Director resigned. Sarah Brown, leader of the Governor’s Office of Strategic Planning & Budgeting, will step down on Feb. 12.

The departure comes at a precarious time for Governor Hobbs, as Brown is a primary author of the Executive Budget and key figure in legislative budget negotiations, which will intensify in the coming weeks. Since being released two weeks ago, the Governor’s $17.7 billion spending plan for fiscal 2026 has been largely panned by the GOP legislative majority. Case in point, Reps. David Livingston (R-Peoria) and Matt Gress (R-Phoenix) skewered the proposal for not accounting for growth in the state’s Medicaid program, AHCCCS, over the next two years. 

The OSPB Director’s resignation is the latest in a series of high-profile departures that have occurred during Governor Hobbs’ two years on the 9th Floor.

The Governor’s first legislative session featured the resignations of her Chief of Staff, Legislative Director, Communications Director and Press Secretary. Also, the Director of the Arizona Office of Tourism resigned late last year amid controversy about a state rebranding campaign.