Neera Tanden’s postings got herself in trouble during her committee hearing to be OMB Director. The Office of Management and Budget oversees the implementation of the President’s vision across the Executive Branch. OMB carries out its mission through four main functions across executive departments and agencies. The OMB Director is understood to not be a partisan in particular due to acquisition of relationships on both ends of the aisle for effectiveness in office. The aggressiveness behind Tanden’s public statements have been argued to add upon the incivility and division that currently plagues our nation. Her public attacks towards specific senators such as Ted Cruz, Susan Collins, and Mitch McConnell also brings about speculation whether it would bring about difficulty in working with them.
As a response to these concerns in the hearing Tanden stated, “I recognize the concern, I deeply regret and apologize for my language and some of my past language. I recognize this role is a bipartisan role and I know I have to earn the trust of senators across the board. I will work very aggressively to meet that concern”. The comments Tanden has stated against Senators include calling Susan Collins “the worst”, Tom Cotton as a “Fraud”, inaccurately stating that “Vampires have more heart than Ted Cruz”, and how Mitch McConnell is “Voldemort”. Tanden would be the first woman of color to lead the budget office, as Biden strives to create the most diverse Cabinet in history. She would also play a large role in crafting administration budget proposals and in overseeing federal regulations. During the hearing, Tanden pushed for the president’s $1.9 trillion economic relief package.
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