Democratic House leaders are reportedly boosting a new candidate for the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) behind closed doors as Neera Tanden, President Joe Biden’s pick for the slot, grapples with an increasing unlikely path to confirmation.
Axios reports that the leaders are privately proposing that a congressional aide named Shalanda Young become the new nominee as Tanden comes under fire from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and GOP senators for her past antagonistic tweets about Republican lawmakers.
House Homeland Security Committee Chair Bennie Thompson (D-MS) described Young as a “proven budget expert” who is “well qualified for the job” in an interview with Axios.
Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA) told Axios that that the aide “is widely respected by members on both sides of the aisle for her expertise.”
“While I am hopeful for Ms. Tanden’s nomination, I cannot say enough good things about Ms. Young,” he said.
With Manchin plus GOP Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Mitt Romney (R-UT) stating that they would vote against Tanden on the basis of her tweets, the nominee’s chances of confirmation have been steadily shrinking.
The Biden administration has not given up on Tanden, however.
“We remain committed to moving that process forward to a confirmation,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters during a press briefing on Monday after Collins announced her opposition to Tanden’s confirmation.
