Sen. Manchin to back Haaland for interior secretary; White House stands by Tanden for OMB

Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) said Wednesday that he will vote to confirm Deb Haaland as interior secretary, citing the New Mexico congresswoman’s “bipartisan accomplishments and sincere willingness to work collaboratively on important issues.”

The announcement gives a boost to one of President Biden’s Cabinet nominees as they continue to face scrutiny at their confirmation hearings in the closely-divided Senate. Votes in two committees on the imperiled nomination of Neera Tanden, Biden’s pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget, have been delayed; the White House continued to maintain its support for Tanden.

Biden met at the White House with a bipartisan group of lawmakers before signing an executive order calling for a 100-day government review of potential vulnerabilities in U.S. supply chains for critical items, including computer chips, medical gear and electric-vehicle batteries.

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Even as the House prepares to pass Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill this week, divisions are growing among Senate Democrats over state aid and a $15 minimum wage — raising the prospect that the bill might have to change significantly to pass the Senate.

Top officials responsible for security at the Capitol on Jan. 6 as it was overrun by a mob backing President Donald Trump blamed intelligence failures for the attack, pointing to lapses that included a missed email warning of violence.

The Biden administration is preparing sanctions and other measures to punish Moscow for actions that go beyond the sprawling SolarWinds cyberespionage campaign to include a range of malign cyberactivity and the near-fatal poisoning of a Russian opposition leader.

Embattled Postmaster General Louis DeJoy appeared at a hearing of the House Oversight and Reform Committee as questions about his future loom.

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