U.S. President Joe Biden appoints Neera Tanden White House staff secretary

Longtime Democratic insider in Washington, Neera Tanden, was named by the U.S. President Joe Biden as to be White House staff secretary. In her new job, Tanden will be at the center of the flow of information between Biden and his senior White House advisers.

Failing earlier this year to install her as the director of the Office of Management and Budget, Biden has moved Neera Tanden into a little-known but influential West Wing post.

For the last several months, Tanden has been a senior adviser to Biden, and has worked behind the scenes to build support among interest groups for the U.S. President’s social spending agenda and oversee a government reform agenda with the budget office.

A close adviser to former Senator Hillary Clinton, Tanden had served as the president of a liberal think tank, the Center for American Progress.