Indian-American Neera Tanden, who had alienated politicians on all sides, has withdrawn her nomination for a cabinet position, but US President Joe Biden has promised her another job that will not need Senate approval. "I look forward to having her serve in a role in my administration. She will bring valuable perspective and insight to our work," Biden said on Tuesday night after Tanden accepted defeat in her bid for Senate confirmation as the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

After a week of desperate attempts by Biden and Democrat leaders to get at least one Republican senator to defect and vote for her, she wrote to Biden, "Unfortunately, it now seems clear that there is no path forward to gain confirmation, and I do not want continued consideration of my nomination to be a distraction from your other priorities." The post of the director of the OMB is one of the most powerful in the US as the official oversees the crafting of the $5 trillion US budget for all the departments and vets policies and appointments.