White House Press Budget Director Peter Orszag says he's stepping down next month.

Orszag, who served a grueling stint as director of the Office of Management and Budget, a Cabinet-level rank, confirmed his planned resignation in a brief interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday. He said he views passage of last year's economic recovery act as his most significant accomplishment.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday that "a number of very talented candidates" were being considered to replace Orszag. Gibbs said Orzag has served on an economic team that "has faced the greatest economic crisis any president has faced since the Great Depression."