U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday that he has withdrawn the nomination of Neera Tanden to head the Office of Management and Budget after significant resistance from prominent senators to confirm her in this position, marking the first defeat for the Democratic president in the Senate.
Biden stated in a release, "I have accepted Neera Tanden's request to withdraw her nomination for the position of Director of the Office of Management and Budget." This reversal follows announcements by several moderate Republicans as well as one Democratic senator that they would vote against Tanden's confirmation due to her past harsh criticisms of several Senate members.
The Director of the Office of Management and Budget wields considerable influence as they are responsible for setting the president's budget and evaluating the projects and expenses of his cabinet members. Since her nomination was announced, Tanden became a target for criticism from senators of both parties. Republicans expressed anger over the fierce criticisms she directed at several Senate members in the past, while progressives close to Senator Bernie Sanders viewed her as too centrist.
However, the final blow to her nomination came from Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who stated in late February, "I believe her overly partisan statements would have toxic and negative ramifications on the important working relationship between Congress members and the next Director of the Office of Management and Budget," adding, "For that reason, I cannot support her appointment."
The Senate has the authority to approve or reject presidential nominations for key government positions. Presidential nominations require a majority of at least 51 votes for confirmation. The Democrats hold a very slim majority in the Senate, sharing it evenly with the Republicans (50-50). However, Vice President Kamala Harris, who constitutionally serves as the president of the Senate, can vote at her discretion, allowing her to potentially tip the balance in favor of her party as needed.
This power dynamic means that any defection from a Democratic senator must be offset by a vote from a Republican senator. The White House attempted on Tuesday to persuade some Republican senators to vote for Tanden, but this effort apparently failed.
According to a statement from the White House, Tanden wrote to Biden in the letter asking him to withdraw her nomination, "I appreciate how difficult your work is, along with your team at the White House." She added, "Unfortunately, it has now become clear that my confirmation is not possible, and I do not want consideration of my appointment to distract from your other priorities."
