CBC ‘unequivocally’ endorses Shalanda Young for White House budget chief

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has thrown its weight behind Capitol Hill veteran Shalanda Young to become the new director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), telling the White House in a letter that Young has the group’s unequivocal support.

“It is our understanding that Shalanda Young has been thoroughly vetted for the position of Deputy Director and has received excellent reviews from both Democratic and Republican members of the Senate,” CBC Chair Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), along with eight other members, wrote in the letter dated Tuesday and released Wednesday.

“Shalanda Young is uniquely qualified to lead OMB and assume the responsibility for developing the President’s budget and supervising the administration of executive branch Agencies,” they wrote.

President Biden is set to put forward another nominee for OMB director as soon as next week after his initial pick, Neera Tanden, faced bipartisan opposition in the Senate, forcing her to withdraw her name for consideration.

The White House had for weeks continued to stand behind Tanden’s nomination, despite it being unclear whether she would have the support needed for confirmation. Tanden’s withdrawal for the top OMB role was announced Tuesday.

Young “certainly has my support,” Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), a former CBC chair, previously told The Hill. “Everyone I’ve talked to says she is just a phenomenal appropriator; she understands the appropriations process. She has the support of both sides of the aisle.”

Young has even received support from Senate Republicans, with Sen. Richard Shelby (Ala.) — the top GOP member on the Senate Appropriations Committee — last Wednesday describing her as a “honest broker.”

“She would have my support, and I suspect many of my Republican colleagues would support her, as well,” Shelby said.

Young was named the House Appropriations Committee’s Democratic staff director in 2017 after serving as a staffer for the panel since 2007. She was the first Black woman to be the House spending panel’s top aide and if nominated and confirmed, she would be the first woman of color to head the OMB.

She would also become the third Black woman in Biden’s Cabinet, joining U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Council of Economic Advisers Chair Cecilia Rouse.

Other groups on Capitol Hill voiced support for Young on Wednesday, including the Democratic Women’s Caucus, the Caucus on Black Women and Girls, and the New Democrat Coalition.