Democratic Asian American leaders frustrated by Neera Tanden’s failed nomination are urging President Biden to pick former Obama administration official Nani Coloretti to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), according to a draft letter obtained by The Yappie.
Coloretti reportedly has the backing of leading Asian American lawmakers including Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois), Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Rep. Grace Meng (D-New York). But it’s unclear how far the lobbying effort, organized by Democratic National Committee AAPI Caucus Chair Bel Leong-Hong, will go.
Community organizers have expressed increasing concern over the lack of Asian American and Pacific Islander representation in Biden’s Cabinet. Tanden was one of just two AAPI nominees at the Cabinet level, while no AAPIs were nominated to secretary roles. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), led by Rep. Judy Chu (D-California), doubled down on its support of Tanden when it became clear she might not be able to secure enough votes.
Now that Tanden has withdrawn her nomination, AAPI leaders are pushing the administration to show its commitment to the AAPI community by nominating another Asian American woman to replace her.
“Our country is facing unprecedented challenges—worldwide pandemic, economic crisis, racial injustice, xenophobia and increase in anti-AAPI violence across the nation,” states the letter addressed to Biden and senior White House staff. “To meet this moment in our nation’s history, we urge you to nominate Ms. Coloretti as the director of OMB.”
“While we commend you for choosing Vice President Harris as the first AAPI and Black woman to hold that office, we are troubled by the lack of AAPI representation in your Cabinet,” it continues. “Ms. Coloretti will be an asset to you and a source of pride for us.”
Organizers plan to deliver the letter, which was first reported by POLITICO's Anita Kumar, to the White House Friday evening. Supporters include the AAPI Victory Fund, CAPA21, Asian Americans Rising, and Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs, along with Filipino American advocacy groups.
Coloretti, currently the senior vice president at think tank Urban Institute, previously served as deputy secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and was the highest-ranking Filipino American in the Obama administration.
If tapped by Biden, she would make history as the first American of Filipino descent to be nominated for a Cabinet-level role.
Describing her as a “very strong candidate,” Leong-Hong said the community is “coalescing our support” behind Coloretti.
“In my humble opinion, I am confident that the Biden/Harris administration will honor their promise to have a Cabinet that is diverse and look[s] like America,” Leong-Hong said in a statement to The Yappie. “While AAPIs still do not have a Cabinet secretary, we were promised at least the two Cabinet level positions: OMB and [U.S. Trade Representative].”
“Our community believes that with the withdrawal of [Tanden’s] nomination, it is critical that another highly qualified AAPI woman be nominated for that position, to ensure that we have at least the two Cabinet level positions we were promised,” she added.
Coloretti has over 25 years of experience in public service, including in the roles of assistant secretary for management and acting chief officer at the Treasury. She grew up in Hawaii and went on to attain a degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania as well as a master’s in public policy from the University of California at Berkeley.
AAPI leaders have repeatedly said that the lack of AAPI representation at the highest level of government is a direct contradiction of Biden’s pledge to appoint the most diverse Cabinet in U.S. history. Biden’s administration is the first in over 20 years without an AAPI secretary.
Katherine Tai, who is nominated to serve as U.S. Trade Representative, would be the only Asian American with a Cabinet-level role, excluding Vice President Kamala Harris, if Biden’s second nominee for OMB director is not AAPI.
On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) filed cloture on Tai's nomination, setting up a floor vote for next week.
This article was updated to include the names of lawmakers and advocacy groups supporting Coloretti.
