Could this be the end of the road for Neera Tanden? Biden’s controversial pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget has hit another roadblock on her path to confirmation. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) and Budget Committees each abruptly postponed meetings where they were scheduled to vote on Tanden.
Tanden has come under intense scrutiny for past comments made about both Republican and Democrat members of Congress. Not only did Tanden disrespect current members but she also went back and deleted thousands of incendiary tweets, which many see as an admission of guilt.
Fox News reports:
Tanden’s nomination was on shaky ground ahead of the scheduled committee votes after Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and many Republicans said they would oppose her nomination last week. Now it’s thrown further into doubt by the cancellation of the two committee votes.
“I have carefully reviewed Neera Tanden’s public statements and tweets that were personally directed towards my colleagues on both sides of the aisle from Senator Sanders to Senator McConnell and others,” Manchin said. “I believe her overtly partisan statements will have a toxic and detrimental impact on the important working relationship between members of Congress and the next director of the Office of Management and Budget.”
Fox News asked the White House if it had withdrawn Tanden’s nomination. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki responded with a statement lauding Tanden.
“Neera Tanden is a leading policy expert who brings critical qualifications to the table during this time of unprecedented crisis,” Psaki said. “She also has important perspective and values, understanding firsthand the powerful difference policy can make in the lives of those going through hard times. She has a broad spectrum of support, ranging from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to labor unions, and has a strong record of working with both parties that we expect to grow in President Biden’s cabinet as the first South Asian woman to lead OMB.”
Multiple committee members such as Joe Manchin(D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Rob Portman (R-OH) have already confirmed they will oppose Tanden’s confirmation.
