CBC would back Young for OMB if Tanden falls

Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) leaders are prepared to push for Shalanda Young to lead President Biden’s budget office if his original pick Neera Tanden is unable to get confirmed, CBC Chairwoman Joyce Beatty’s (D-Ohio) office confirmed to The Hill.

The congresswoman’s office emphasized that this was contingent on Tanden — a veteran of several Democratic administrations — not being able to get the required stamp of approval from the Senate.

Tanden’s nomination is opposed by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and most Republican senators because of insulting tweets she directed toward Republicans while she served as head of the Center for American Progress, and as an adviser to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Democrats backing Tanden have said it is hypocritical of Republicans to criticize her remarks given former President Trump’s insulting tweets.

Young, who became the House Appropriations Committee’s Democratic staff director in 2017 after serving as a staffer for a decade, is Biden’s pick to be the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) deputy director.

She was the first Black woman to be the House spending panel’s top aide and, like Tanden, who is Indian American, would be the first woman of color to head OMB.

Outwardly, the White House is still fully supporting Tanden.

“This is a process — confirmations, getting individuals confirmed is,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at a press briefing. “She has two committee votes this week, and we’re working toward that and we’ll continue to work in supporting her nomination.”