Biden Taps Acting OMB Director Shalanda Young for Permanent Role

After months of speculation, President Biden on Wednesday announced his intent to nominate the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget—currently Deputy Director Shalanda Young—to become the permanent leader. He also announced his pick to replace Young as deputy director. 

Young, a veteran of the House Appropriations Committee, has been serving as acting OMB director since the end of March when she was confirmed as deputy director, which followed the withdrawal of Neera Tanden’s nomination for the top job. Lawmakers from both parties immediately called on the administration to tap Young for the director role. 

Nani Coloretti, who the president will formally nominate as OMB deputy director, is currently a senior vice president at the Urban Institute. She has previously served in senior roles at the Housing and Urban Development and Treasury departments and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 

These are “two extraordinary history-making women to lead the Office of Management and Budget,” which has been called “the nerve center of our government,” said Biden in a video message. Young would be the “first Black woman to hold the post” and Coloretti would be “one of the most senior Asian American leaders in government.” 

They “are two of the most experienced, qualified people to lead OMB,” Biden continued. “Each has been confirmed before by the United States Senate with strong bipartisan support and I urge the Senate to swiftly confirm them again, so they can lead OMB at the important time.” 

OMB’s role in advancing the administration’s priorities is critical. It manages the federal budget process, regulatory matters, procurement and management of the federal workforce (as demonstrated in the outline of the president's management agenda released last week), including the return to office process and implementation of the coronavirus vaccine mandate.

During her confirmation hearings in March to become acting director, Young vowed to improve transparency and oversight in how agencies spend taxpayer dollars as well as prioritize restoring morale in the federal workforce. 

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Ct., chair of the House Appropriations Committee, lauded the selection of Young. 

“It has been my privilege to work with Acting Director Young for many years, first as a widely respected staffer on the Appropriations Committee and now as a dedicated leader in the Biden Administration,” said DeLauro in a statement. “Young has rightly earned the respect of Democrats and Republicans for her deep knowledge, her strong relationships on both sides of the aisle, and her tenacious hard work.”

Young is currently on maternity leave, so Jason Miller, OMB deputy director for management, is handling the day-to-day responsibilities. While the clock ran out earlier this month for some acting positions under the 1998 Federal Vacancies Reform Act, there is no time limit for acting OMB directors.