Steve Holland

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Neera Tanden was appointed White House staff secretary Friday. She will play a crucial role behind the scenes.

An official from the White House said that the White House announced the appointment during a morning staff conference. It does not require Senate approval.

As the White House’s “nerve center”, the staff secretary manages paper flow, distributes documents among staff to be discussed as part of the decision making process.

The job was once held by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh who served as White House staff secretary to Republican George W. Bush. Jessica Hertz was the Biden White House’s first female president.

Tanden will report into Ron Klain (White House Chief of Staff).

“Neera brings over 20 years of policy and management experience, which is crucial for the job. “Her experience with domestic, national and economic policy will prove invaluable in her new role,” a White House official explained.

Tanden was previously an advisor to the former U.S. president Barack Obama, and to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She had served as President of Center for American Progress (CAP), a right-leaning thinktank, before becoming a senior adviser for President Joe Biden in May.

Republicans were critical of Tanden for her tweets. Her nomination to the White House Office of Budget Management director was put on hold after Democratic Senator Joe Manchin stated that he would not approve Tanden in U.S. Senate. This split is 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats.

Owing to opposition, she withdrew her name in March from the OMB job search.