Neera Tanden withdrew her name from nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget after several senators voiced opposition and concern about her qualifications and past combative tweets, President Biden announced Tuesday.
Why it matters: Tanden’s decision to pull her nomination marks Biden's first setback in filling out his Cabinet with a thin Democratic majority in the Senate.
What they're saying: "I have accepted Neera Tanden’s request to withdraw her name from nomination for Director of the Office of Management and Budget," Biden said in a statement.
- "I have the utmost respect for her record of accomplishment, her experience and her counsel," he added.
Tanden, in a letter to Biden, said "it now seems clear that there is no path forward to gain confirmation, and I do not want continued consideration of my nomination to be a distraction from your other priorities."
Context: The Senate Homeland Security Committee last week postponed a confirmation hearing with Tanden because members were asking for "more time to consider the nominee."
- Senators from both parties criticized her combative tweets against Republican members of Congress, noting they undercut Biden's campaign promise to seek unity and bipartisanship.
- In February, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) said he would not vote to confirm her, and three Republicans who could potentially replace Manchin's vote — Susan Collins (R-Maine), Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) — also said they would vote no.
Of note: Biden said he looks "forward to having [Tanden] serve in a role in my Administration. She will bring valuable perspective and insight to our work."