Biden to nominate Shalanda Young as budget director

By Alexandra Jaffe and Darlene Superville

Washington, Nov 24 (AP) President Joe Biden is set to nominate Shalanda Young to head the Office of Management and Budget, according to a person familiar with his plans on Wednesday.

Young has served as acting director of the office for much of the year. Biden's first nominee for the position, Neera Tanden, faced bipartisan criticism for her previous attacks on lawmakers and withdrew from consideration.

Young faces her own Senate confirmation vote, but she was initially confirmed to her current role in March with nearly two-thirds support and the backing of multiple Republicans. As the former staff director of the House Appropriations Committee, Young had the support of top Democratic leaders, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

She would be the first Black woman to lead the OMB.

Biden is expected to nominate Nani Coloretti, a senior vice president at the Urban Institute think tank, as deputy director. If confirmed, that would make Coloretti one of the highest Asian Americans in government and it would be the first time the OMB is led by two women of colour.

The head of the Office of Management and Budget is tasked with putting together the administration's budget and overseeing a wide range of logistical and regulatory issues across the federal government.

The person familiar with Biden's plans wasn't authorised to speak about them publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. (AP)

MRJ