Biden takes another crack with potentially historic OMB director nominee

President Joe Biden announced who he has chosen to be his second nominee for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director. His original pick Neera Tanden was forced to withdraw her nomination after members on both sides of the aisle criticized her about comments she had made on social media. In her place, President Biden nominated acting OMB director Shalanda Young. According to a White House news release, “Young has served as Acting Director since being confirmed as Deputy Director by the Senate in a bipartisan 63-37 vote on March 23, 2021.”

“In her eight months as acting director of OMB, she’s continued to impress me and congressional leaders as well,” Biden said in a Wednesday morning video announcement, shown in the video above, “Shalonda will not only be tremendously qualified director, she’ll also be a historic director, the first black woman to hold the post.”

The OMB director nominee will have to rely on bipartisan support as she is set for another Senate confirmation vote. In addition to receiving support from multiple Republicans back in March, Young received support from top Democratic leaders during her time as the former staff director of the House Appropriations Committee.

Biden also announced Nani Colorettu as his nominee for OMB deputy director Wednesday. Coloretti is currently a Senior Vice President at the Urban Institute.

“This will be the homecoming for Nani, who started her career as a presidential management fellow at OMB,” Biden said. “Previously, Nani has overseen management at the Treasury Department, helped set up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and then in the Obama/Biden administration served as deputy secretary for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.”

As a Filipino American, the OMB deputy director nominee would become one of the highest-ranking Asian Americans in the Biden administration. If both she and Young are confirmed, it would be the first time two women of color lead the agency.

“Shalanda Young and Nani Coloretti are two of the most experienced qualified people to lead OMB. Each has been confirmed before by the United States Senate with strong bipartisan support,” Biden said. “I urge the Senate to swiftly confirm them again so they can lead OMB at this important time.”