Ballotpedia's Daily Transition Tracker - February 22, 2021

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February 22, 2021

Sen. Joe Manchin said he will oppose Neera Tanden’s confirmation for director of the Office of Management and Budget.

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Welcome to Ballotpedia's Transition Tracker

February 22, 2021

President Joe Biden (D) and his team have been preparing for the transition between presidential administrations since the election, including selecting senior White House staff and appointees to top government positions.

In 2020, there were 1,472 government positions subject to presidential appointment: 1,118 positions required Senate confirmation and 354 did not. The new administration is also responsible for filling thousands of other positions across the federal government, including in operations and policy. Every weekday, Ballotpedia is tracking potential Cabinet nominees, appointments, and news related to the Biden administration.

 

 

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• One committee hearing is scheduled Monday: The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a confirmation hearing for Merrick Garland for attorney general.

• Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) said on Friday that he would vote against the confirmation of Neera Tanden for director of the Office of Management and Budget. “I believe her overtly partisan statements will have a toxic and detrimental impact on the important working relationship between members of Congress and the next director,” he said. Tanden will need at least one Republican vote to be confirmed.

• Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who has supported seven Biden Cabinet nominees so far, also said she will oppose Tanden’s confirmation.

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News

• The United States officially rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement on Friday. The Biden administration will set a target for reducing emissions in the coming months. The Obama administration had set a goal of reducing emissions, as measured in 2005, by 26 percent by 2025.

• The Biden administration is adjusting the Paycheck Protection Program’s guidelines effective Feb. 24. Under the new rules, sole proprietors will be eligible to receive more aid. For companies with 20 or more employees, there will be a 14-day freeze on loans.

• On Saturday, Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Texas on Saturday, giving 77 of the state’s 254 counties access to federal assistance.

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Transition in Context: Executive Orders in the First Month

The following table compares the number of executive orders issued by each of the four most recent presidents during his first month in office.

Biden has issued more executive orders during this time period than his three predecessors. President Donald Trump (R) issued the most executive orders per year on average: 55.

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What We’re Reading

• The New York Times: Democrats’ Big Tent Helped Them Win. Now It Threatens Biden’s Agenda.
• Politico: Biden deprioritizes the Middle East
• The Wall Street Journal: Garland to Make Case for New Era at Justice Department

 

 

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