Biden has also stated that his administration's "policy" will be to "prevent and combat discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation," in a Jan. 21 order redefining sex discrimination to include protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. Legal experts told CNA that his order would have broad implications and would ignite many conflicts over religious freedom.
A president's choice of an OMB director is reflective of his thinking, Vought said, wanting someone who "consistent with his ideology" in the position.
Tanden has previously served as president and CEO of the Center for American Progress. During her tenure, the organization fought religious freedom protections for groups opposed to same-sex marriage. The think tank sought to redefine religious freedom to include LGBT "equality" and "reproductive rights," and has also promoted figures who are seeking to split Christianity over LGBT issues.
Tanden has also been a strong supporter of the HHS contraceptive mandate, using contraception as an issue to divide and marginalize abortion opponents.
During her confirmation hearings this week, Tanden was pressed by Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) over a 2012 article where she called the mandate a successful "cudgel" used to cast opponents of contraception as "extreme."
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Tanden initially did not apologize for her words, saying instead that "for anyone offended by my language, you know, I feel badly about that." Tanden later apologized for her comments contributing to polarization.
Tanden has also supported abortion during her tenure at CAP. She called efforts to defund Planned Parenthood "partisan attacks on women's access to critical health services"; she lauded the Supreme Court's 2016 Whole Woman's Health decision that struck down Texas restrictions on abortion clinics; and she praised former Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards as someone who has "fought tirelessly to improve women's access to abortion."
Vought served as acting OMB director from Jan., 2019, until July, 2020, when he was officially confirmed in the position by the Senate.