Black History

Shalonda Young Joins Joe Biden’s Cabinet as Director of the Budget Office

In a bi-partisan vote of 61-36, Shalanda Young becomes the first Black woman to head the department that oversees the government’s budget. Before her appointment Young served almost a year as acting director of OMB during a time when, according to the White House, the government spent over $1.3 trillion in appropriations for disaster aid and COVID-19 response aid.

Published

3 years ago

March 21, 2022

Oakland Post

Shalanda Young. ABHmuseum.org photo.

By Post Staff

Confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday to become director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, Shalanda Young becomes the fifth Black woman appointed to President Joe Biden’s Cabinet thereby continuing to fulfill his campaign promise to diversify the leadership in his administration.

In a bi-partisan vote of 61-36, Young becomes the first Black woman to head the department that oversees the government’s budget. Before her appointment Young served almost a year as acting director of OMB during a time when, according to the White House, the government spent over $1.3 trillion in appropriations for disaster aid and COVID-19 response aid.

Before her nomination went to the Senate, Young had the backing of key Democrats and Republicans alike including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Congressional Black Caucus.

Upon hearing of her confirmation, Rep. Barbara Lee, senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, released a statement congratulating Young.

Lee worked closely with Young during her time as Staff Director for the House Appropriations Committee.

“In my time working with Shalanda Young on the Appropriations committee, she was one of the most talented, strategic, and well-respected staff members on Capitol Hill.

“I have no doubt that she will continue her legislative mastery as the first Black woman director of OMB. It makes me very proud that she’s finally cleared this nomination process, and I can’t wait to continue working with her in her new role.”

The Louisiana native who attended Tulane University and Loyola University New Orleans also drew high praise from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday ahead of the vote.

“It shouldn’t have taken this long to confirm someone as obviously qualified as Shalanda Young,” Schumer said from the Senate floor. “She’s been leading the OMB for nearly a year. She knows the budget and appropriations processes like the back of her hand. She’s proven capable of working with Republicans and Democrats alike. And it was through her guidance the administration notched some of its biggest victories including the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law.”

The Hill, CNNnews and the press office of Rep. Barbara Lee were the sources for this report.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Congress Passes Anti-Lynching Bill After 200 Failed Attempts Over 100+ Years

Don't Miss

Black Press Journalist Appointed to Two National League of Cities Posts

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of June 4 – 10, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of June 4-10, 2025

Published

5 days ago

June 7, 2025

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Remembering George Floyd

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Minnesota State Attorney General Keith Ellison acknowledges that the Floyd case five years ago involved a situation in which due process was denied, and five years later, the president is currently dismissing “due process. “The Minnesota Atty General also says, “Trump is trying to attack constitutional rule, attacking congressional authority and judicial decision-making.” George Floyd was an African American man killed by police who knocked on his neck and on his back, preventing him from breathing.

Published

2 weeks ago

June 2, 2025

Oakland Post

Mural showing the portrait of George Floyd in Mauerpark in Berlin. To the left of the portrait the lettering "I can't Breathe" was added, on the right side the three hashtags #GeorgeFloyd, #Icantbreathe and #Sayhisname. The mural was completed by Eme Street Art (facebook name) / Eme Free Thinker (signature) on 29 May 2020. (Wikimedia Commons)

By April Ryan
BlackPressUSA Newswire

“The president’s been very clear he has no intentions of pardoning Derek Chauvin, and it’s not a request that we’re looking at,” confirms a senior staffer at the Trump White House. That White House response results from public hope, including from a close Trump ally, Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. The timing of Greene’s hopes coincides with the Justice Department’s recent decision to end oversight of local police accused of abuse. It also falls on the fifth anniversary of the police-involved death of George Floyd on May 25th. The death sparked national and worldwide outrage and became a transitional moment politically and culturally, although the outcry for laws on police accountability failed.

The death forced then-Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden to focus on deadly police force and accountability. His efforts while president to pass the George Floyd Justice in policing act failed. The death of George Floyd also put a spotlight on the Black community, forcing then-candidate Biden to choose a Black woman running mate. Kamala Harris ultimately became vice president of the United States alongside Joe Biden. Minnesota State Attorney General Keith Ellison prosecuted the cases against the officers involved in the death of Floyd. He remembers,” Trump was in office when George Floyd was killed, and I would blame Trump for creating a negative environment for police-community relations. Remember, it was him who said when the looting starts, the shooting starts, it was him who got rid of all the consent decrees that were in place by the Obama administration.”

In 2025, Police-involved civilian deaths are up by “about 100 to about 11 hundred,” according to Ellison. Ellison acknowledges that the Floyd case five years ago involved a situation in which due process was denied, and five years later, the president is currently dismissing “due process. “The Minnesota Atty General also says, “Trump is trying to attack constitutional rule, attacking congressional authority and judicial decision-making.” George Floyd was an African-American man killed by police who knocked on his neck and on his back, preventing him from breathing. During those minutes on the ground, Floyd cried out for his late mother several times. Police subdued Floyd for an alleged counterfeit $20 bill.