Biden nominates Shalanda Young as budget director, months after Neera Tanden withdrew consideration

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden on Wednesday nominated Shalanda Young to serve as budget director months after his initial choice was forced to withdraw her nomination over objections by Congress. 

Young, who has served as acting director of the Office of Management and Budget since she was confirmed as Biden's pick for deputy budget director in March, would become the first Black woman to hold the position if confirmed by the Senate.

"In her eight months as acting director of OMB she's continued to impress me and congressional leaders as well," Biden said in announcing his choice in a video posted on Twitter.

As budget director, Young would permanently lead the powerful executive office frequently described as the "nerve center" of government, playing an outsized role in overseeing Biden's economic agenda. She would bear responsibility for producing his annual budget request, oversee management of the executive branch and work with federal agencies to implement his regulatory agenda across the administration. 

Though Young sailed through her confirmation process in a 63-27 bipartisan vote that included support from more than a dozen Republicans, she will again need Senate confirmation to permanently serve in the role. In the meantime, she'll continue to serve as acting director. 

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Biden also announced Nani Coloretti as his choice deputy budget director, which would make her one of the most senior Asian-Americans in government.

Biden called Young and Coloretti "two of the most experienced and qualified people to lead OMB," noting both have already been confirmed by the Senate with "strong bipartisan support."

"And I urge the Senate to swiftly confirm them again," he said, "so they can lead on be this important time."

Coloretti, who serves as senior vice president for financial business strategy at the Urban Institute, was widely viewed as a top pick to lead the budget office. Asian American Pacific Islander advocates pushed for Coloretti's nomination to replace Biden's first pick, Neera Tanden. 

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The announcement comes months Tanden was forced to withdraw her nomination to the critical role after Republican blowback. Tanden faced a bruising confirmation process in which she was forced to repeatedly apologize for controversial statements she made about Republicans during her time leading the left-leaning think tank Center for American Progress. She has since served as an adviser to the president and was named Biden's staff secretary last month. 

Young, who has more than 14 years of experience serving in different roles with the House Appropriations Committee, played a key role in shaping the coronavirus relief legislation passed earlier this year. 

Coloretti served in the Obama administration for nearly eight years, including three years as deputy secretary for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, a position in which she was confirmed 68-28. She also spent five years at the Treasury Department, where she oversaw management and helped set up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.