Tanden out as OMB director nominee
After weeks of controversy, the Biden administration's pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget withdrew her name from consideration.
Neera Tanden is out of the running to lead the Office of Management and Budget. (Photo credit: John Smith WIlliams/Shutterstock.com)
After weeks of controversy, the Biden administration's pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget withdrew her name from consideration.
Neera Tanden, the president of the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, came under fire from Senate Republicans for her history of combative Twitter posts. Her bid to lead OMB was sunk by a Democrat – Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) indicated on Feb. 19 that he would vote against her if her nomination reached the Senate floor. The two Senate committees that heard from Tanden in nomination hearings postponed votes last week to see if any Republicans would cross party lines to support her.
"I have accepted Neera Tanden's request to withdraw her name from nomination for Director of the Office of Management and Budget," President Joe Biden said in a statement released Tuesday evening by the White House. "I have the utmost respect for her record of accomplishment, her experience and her counsel, and I look forward to having her serve in a role in my Administration. She will bring valuable perspective and insight to our work."
In her letter withdrawing her nomination, Tanden wrote that, "I appreciate how hard you and your team at the White House has worked to win my confirmation. Unfortunately, it now seems clear that there is no path forward to gain confirmation, and I do not want continued consideration of my nomination to be a distraction from your other priorities."
Earlier in the afternoon of the same day, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki indicated that Tanden had the administration's support.
Also on Tuesday, the Senate Budget Committee heard from Shalanda Young, the nominee to serve as OMB's deputy director. At that hearing, Republicans said they would support Young should she be nominated to serve as OMB director.
The Senate has moved more slowly on Biden's nominees than it has for previous incoming presidents, but every nominee to reach the Senate floor since Jan. 20 has been confirmed.