Neera Tanden named White House staff secretary

Neera Tanden speaks during a Senate Budget Committee confirmation hearing on Feb. 10. Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Neera Tanden was named White House staff secretary on Friday, according to a White House official. The appointment comes after her nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget was withdrawn in May after several senators voiced opposition.

Driving the news: Tanden's new role, described by the official as the "central nervous system of the White House," will put her in charge of managing a range of issues and documents for President Biden, including briefing books and decision memos.

• Tanden, who will start in her new role on Monday, replaces Jessica Hertz, a former Obama administration attorney, who is leaving the job on Friday, Politico first reported.
• The Washington Post first reported Tanden's move.

The big picture: Tanden will retain her title as White House senior adviser, a position she assumed after her nomination was withdrawn.

• Tanden drew scrutiny for her social media activity during the Trump presidency, in which she frequently criticized the administration.
• Tanden, an Indian American, will be the first woman of color to hold the position, according to the Post.
• A longtime aide to Hillary Clinton, Tanden became president of the liberal Center for American Congress after leaving the Obama administration, Axios previously reported.

Go deeper: Former OMB nominee Neera Tanden joins White House as senior adviser

Hans Nichols contributed to this report.

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