White House Doubles Down on Neera Tanden Despite Postponed Hearing, Expects Her to Be OMB Director

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has reiterated the administration's support for Neera Tanden, the nominee for director of the Office of Management and Budget, after a Senate Homeland Security Committee confirmation hearing was canceled.

Axios reported that the committee had postponed the hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

In a statement issued on Twitter, Psaki said: "Neera Tanden is a leading policy expert who brings critical qualifications to the table during this time of unprecedented crisis.

"She also has important perspective and values, understanding firsthand the powerful difference policy can make in the lives of those going through hard times.

"She has a broad spectrum of support, ranging from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to labor unions, and has a strong record of working with both parties that we expect to grow in President Biden's cabinet as the first South Asian woman to lead OMB."

Psaki previously expressed support for Tanden after several senators said they would not vote for her confirmation, putting it in doubt. President Joe Biden said last week he expected to be able to "find the votes and get her confirmed."

Newsweek has contacted the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and the White House for comment.

Among the lawmakers opposed to Tanden's nomination is Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, who has said he will not vote to confirm her. Republicans have also widely criticized her.

Democrats have control in the Senate, but only thanks to Vice President Kamala Harris' tiebreaking vote. Its entire caucus—48 Democrats and two independents who caucus with them—must be unified in order to secure a majority without any support from the chamber's 50 Republicans.

With Manchin opposed to Tanden, at least one Republican senator would have to vote for her to cancel out his vote.

In a statement, Manchin said: "I have carefully reviewed Neera Tanden's public statements and tweets that were personally directed towards my colleagues on both sides of the aisle from Senator [Bernie] Sanders to Senator [Mitch] McConnell and others.

"I believe her overtly partisan statements will have a toxic and detrimental impact on the important working relationship between members of Congress and the next director of the Office of Management and Budget.

"For this reason, I cannot support her nomination."

Tanden has apologized for her remarks about lawmakers on social media.

"I know there have been some concerns about some of my past language on social media, and I regret that language and take responsibility for it," Tanden said earlier this month.

"I deeply regret and apologize for my language."