President Joe Biden (D) withdrew the nomination of Neera Tanden for director of the Office of Management and Budget on Tuesday after several senators, including Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), said they would vote against confirming her. This marks the first failed nomination of Biden’s administration.
Biden said in a statement, “I have accepted Neera Tanden’s request to withdraw her name from nomination for Director of the Office of Management and Budget. 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 withdrawal letter to Biden, Tanden said, “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.”
The White House has not yet named a new nominee, although the following individuals are reportedly in consideration:
• Shalanda Young is a former staff director for the House Appropriations Committee. She had a confirmation hearing this week for her nomination for OMB deputy director.
• Gene Sperling was previously in consideration for the position. He was director of the National Economic Council in both the Clinton and Obama administration.
• Ann O’Leary was California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) chief of staff. O’Leary worked on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.
• Martha Coven was the associate director for Education, Income Maintenance, and Labor in the OMB during the Obama administration. She was also involved in Biden’s search committee for the OMB.
• Sarah Bianchi was a deputy assistant to the president for economic policy in the Obama administration and is a longtime Biden policy aide.
The Senate has confirmed 13 of Biden’s Cabinet nominees, including three earlier this week:
• Miguel Cardona for secretary of education (64-33)
• Gina Raimondo for secretary of commerce (84-15)
• Cecilia Rouse for chair of the Council of Economic Advisers (95-4)
Eight other nominees are awaiting committee or confirmation votes. Eric Lander, Biden’s nominee to lead the Office of Science and Technology Policy, is awaiting a confirmation hearing.
Four Republicans have supported all 13 of Biden’s nominees so far:
• Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine)
• Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)
• Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio)
• Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah)
The following senators have voted against all or most of Biden’s nominees:
• Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) voted against 12 of the 13 nominees. The only nominee he supported was Rouse.
• Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) voted against 11 of the 13 nominees.
• Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) voted against 10 of the 13 nominees.
• Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) voted against 9 of the 13 nominees.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is the only Democrat or independent who caucuses with Democrats to vote against one of Biden’s nominees.
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