Biden reportedly considering Indian American to head Office of Management and Budget

Neera Tanden expected to be named to head the office of Management and Budget.

This week, President-elect Joe Biden is expected to name his team who will manage the future of the United States economy under the future Biden administration.

Among the names mentioned, Neera Tanden is expected to be nominated to lead the Office of Management and Budget. The Indian American is president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, and the former domestic policy director for the Obama-Biden presidential campaign.

Also expected to be nominated is Janet Yellen for Secretary of the Treasury and Cecilia Rouse to chair the Council of Economic Advisers. If Yellen's nomination survives the GOP-dominated Senate gauntlet, it would put  a woman in charge of the Treasury for the first time in its 231-year history.

Tanden faces tough sledding in the Senate.

Republicans, who are expected to retain control of the Senate, are likely push back against Tanden, who advised Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and has been one of the most outspoken critics of President Trump.

Acceptance of her nomination by the Senate hinges on the outcome of the Jan. 5 runoff elections for Georgia's two Senate seats. If both posts go to Democrats, they would have a 51 to 49 edge. If they lose both seats, the Republicans would retain control. 

If the Democrats can pull off winning one of the seats, the Senate would have a 50-50 tie and the tie-breaking vote will be Vice President Kamala Harris.

Tanden is the first Asian American to be named to Biden's future team of advisors. Pressure to name more AAPI to the White House's inner circle continues to mount after Biden didn't include any AAPIs on the foreign policy and international relations team that he named last week.

A failure to appoint any from the racial groups to the Cabinet, said Rep. Judy Chu, chair of the Caucus of Asian Pacific Americans in Congress. She told told NBC Asian America that overlooking Asian Americans would send a “terrible message that being inclusive does not require including AAPIs.”

“As a consequence, more AAPIs will feel excluded and invisible, and fewer will see a future for themselves in government,” Chu said.

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