Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters on Wednesday that she is "thrilled to be back" at the State Department.
"I am also incredibly grateful to this fabulous team that I have here at the State Department, who never missed a beat for the time that I was away," Clinton said in her first public remarks since returning from a month-long medical leave.
When asked if she was back in the swing of things, Clinton responded, "I am back."
Clinton
went back to work on Monday after having received treatment for a blood clot found in her head. Doctors believe Clinton developed the clot when she fell and suffered a concussion during a prolonged bout with stomach flu. Clinton was released from the hospital on last week and her physicians said they expect the secretary to make a full recovery.
On her return to the State Department on Monday, Clinton was greeted by employees who presented her with a football helmet and jersey symbolizing the "contact sport" of Washington politics.
Clinton is expected to step down shortly, and President Obama has nominated Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) to replace her in his second term.
"We are focused on continuing our work, finishing up everything that we can, and helping Sen. Kerry with his transition," said Clinton on Wednesday.
Clinton noted that although she is looking forward to a less hectic schedule, her departure is "somewhat bittersweet."
"It's obviously somewhat bittersweet, because I've had the most extraordinary experience and I've had the most amazing team of people, but I'm very much looking forward to doing everything we can in these last few weeks to resolve and finish up wherever possible and have a very smooth, seamless transition to Sen. Kerry to continue the work," she said.
When pressed on whether her next step is to "retire," Clinton said, "I don't know if that's the word I would use, but certainly stepping off the very fast track."
Clinton is likely to continue her busy schedule in her last few weeks at the State Department, however.
Congressional lawmakers have pressed the secretary to testify on the Hill about the administration's handling of the deadly September attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, which killed four Americans.
Clinton had intended to testify before her illness, but sent two of her top deputies in her place.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland confirmed earlier this week that Clinton would testify before the House and Senate before Kerry's confirmation hearing.
On Friday, the White House will also welcome Afghan President Hamid Karzai to continue discussions on the drawdown of American troops from that country.
