Damper for the US President: Senate rejects Biden's candidate for top post

Wednesday, March 03, 2021

Damper for the US President
Senate rejects Biden's candidate for top post

Neera Tanden will not become head of the budget office under President Biden. In the US Senate, many Democrats and at least one Democrat reject the candidate. With her resignation, the politician is now preventing a certain defeat in a vote.

US President Joe Biden suffered a setback for the first time when his cabinet members and heads of authorities were confirmed by the Senate. He had accepted Neera Tanden's resignation as a candidate for the head of the government budget office (OMB), the president said on Tuesday evening (local time). Many Republicans and at least one Democratic senator had turned down Tanden's candidacy. They criticized earlier statements by the 50-year-olds, who had expressed themselves very disparagingly on Twitter about leading Republicans, including ex-President Trump.

The Budget Office (OMB) is a lesser-known authority, but it is very important for the running of government business. With the withdrawal of the candidacy, Biden was spared a foreseeable defeat in the vote in the Senate.

So far, Biden has been able to push through his candidates for ministerial posts and government agencies in the Senate with a non-partisan majority. The Democrats alone currently hold exactly 50 of the 100 seats in the Senate. The Chamber of Congress must approve all top government personalities. Biden said he had "the utmost respect" for Tanden, for her experience and advice. He is looking forward to bringing her to the government's service in a different role.

Tanden, of Indian descent, used to work as an advisor to presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and worked for the administration of then President Barack Obama. Her nomination had also aroused resentment in the Democratic camp of left Senator Bernie Sanders. In the past, Tanden had spoken out against proposals for statutory health insurance for everyone.

Tanden said in a letter to Biden circulated by the White House that she was honored to be nominated for the post. "Unfortunately, it now seems clear that there is no way to be confirmed (by the Senate)," wrote Tanden accordingly. She wanted to prevent sticking to the nomination from becoming a burden for the government.