White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain said on Wednesday night that Neera Tanden, President Joe Biden’s embattled pick for director of the Office of Budget Management (OMB), will be offered another role in the administration if the Senate refuses to confirm her.
Klain told MSNBC that “we’re fighting our guts out” for Tanden, whose confirmation is being stonewalled by outraged GOP senators and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) over her incendiary tweets about Republican lawmakers-the kind of social media activity that GOP senators did not find disqualifying when President Donald Trump attacked his political enemies on Twitter.
Klain signaled on Wednesday that the White House is still holding out hope that they’ll find the Republican support they need to get Tanden confirmed.
“We had [Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)] announce tonight that he’s open minded on Neera’s confirmation. We have other Republican senators we’re talking to,” he said.
However, Klain suggested that there would be other opportunities for Tanden in the administration if she does not prevail in her OMB nomination.
“We will find some other place for her to serve in the administration that doesn’t require Senate confirmation,” the White House official said.
“But we’re going to get her confirmed,” he added. “That’s what we’re working for.”
Watch Klain below:
WH chief of staff says Tanden will be given a spot in the Biden admin "that doesn't require Senate confirmation" if she doesn't get confirmed as OMB director. pic.twitter.com/A7F66pvyom
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) February 25, 2021
