Neera Tanden, nominated by Joe Biden to head the budget office at the White House, could have difficulty securing confirmation in the Senate, under crossfire from Republicans who give him
"no chance"
to do so, and progressives deeming it too centrist.
If confirmed by the Senate, currently controlled by Republicans, Neera Tanden would be the first woman of Indian descent to serve as director of the Office of Management and Budget at the White House (OMB).
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This very powerful service is in particular responsible for developing the budget desired by the president and for evaluating the projects and expenses of his ministers.
A great critic of Donald Trump, Neera Tanden, 50, is now president of the Center for American Progress, a left-wing think tank.
She would need to be approved by a majority of senators to take the post when Joe Biden becomes the 46th President of the United States on January 20.
Neera Tanden has launched
"a continuous stream of derogatory comments on Republican senators"
that will be necessary for her confirmation, tweeted Drew Brandewie, spokesman for Republican Senator John Cornyn.
It therefore has
“no chance of being confirmed”.
The next majority in the Senate will be played on January 5 in a double by-election in the conservative state of Georgia.
If Republicans maintain control, Neera Tanden's appointment will have been a
"sacrifice to the confirmation gods"
, predicts ex-chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Josh Holmes .
An ironic reference to the fact that in recent history, one of the choices of the president-elect has been rejected each time by the US Senate.
Neera Tanden is also criticized by some supporters of Bernie Sanders, who notably protest against the proposal to establish a universal health coverage system.
"Neera Tanden embodies all that is toxic in the institutional Democratic Party
,
"
said Briahna Joy Gray, spokesperson for the independent senator during his presidential campaign in 2020. Many Democratic voices have however raised to welcome this choice.
“Neera Tanden is smart, experienced and qualified for the position of Director of OMB,”
tweeted Senator Sherrod Brown.
Progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren responded to her tweet with a simple
"I agree."
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