The White House announced Thursday that President Obama will nominate San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro to the position of secretary of housing and urban development on Friday.

According to a White House official, the move was not unexpected, but they would not confirm the nomination until Thursday evening, The New York Times reported.

The official said in a statement that Castro is a "leader among mayors in terms of implementing housing and economic development programs."

Obama will announce Castro's nomination at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the White House.

If confirmed by the Senate, Castro, 39, will be youngest member in President Obama's cabinet. His nomination will bring another popular Hispanic lawmaker into his cabinet at a time when Obama is being criticized by Hispanic groups for his deportation policies, as well as his failure to persuade the House to move forward on a comprehensive immigration reform bill.

If appointed, Castro will replace Shaun Donovan, who Obama is nominating to be the next director of the Office of Management and Budget. Donovan will replace Sylvia Mathews Burwell, who is being nominated as the secretary of health and human services. Her nomination is currently being considered by the Senate.

The White House praised Donovan and said that he "has a track record of using data to make good decisions and drive results."

Obama's cabinet has changed almost completely since he took office in 2008. Donovan and Arne Duncan, the secretary of education, were the two longest-serving officials in the cabinet, having been appointed by Obama after the 2008 election.

Duncan is still the secretary of education, but every other cabinet member has changed since Obama took office.

Castro and Donovan could battle serious opposition from Republicans during the latter half of Obama's second term. Donovan will face more intransigence in the budget office on fiscal matters if Republicans win a majority in the Senate in November's midterm elections.

Castro will could also face some major issues as the housing market continues to rebound from the Great Recession's housing crisis.

The appointment of Castro will appease some critics who argue that Obama's cabinet does not have enough Latinos, especially considering that Latinos are one of the fastest-growing minority groups in the United States.

Thomas Perez is the only Latino currently serving in Obama's cabinet as labor secretary. Perez, who is of Dominican descent, took over for Hilda Solis in 2013.

The appointment of Castro may also help appease Latino voters ahead of the midterm elections who are dissatisfied with Democrats' lack of success in urging Republicans to pass immigration reform legislation.