History of Neera Tanden in Timeline

Neera Tanden is an American political consultant and government official. She currently serves as the Director of the United States Domestic Policy Council, a position she has held since 2023. Prior to this role, she was a senior advisor and staff secretary to President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2023. Tanden's career also includes a lengthy tenure at the Center for American Progress (CAP), a prominent center-left think tank. She served in various capacities at CAP from its inception in 2003 until 2021, ultimately rising to the position of president.

September 10, 1970: Neera Tanden is Born

On September 10, 1970, Neera Tanden was born in Bedford, Massachusetts.

1988: Tanden Graduates from Bedford High School

Neera Tanden graduated from Bedford High School in 1988.

1988: Tanden's Early Involvement in Democratic Campaigns

Neera Tanden's involvement in Democratic politics began early, volunteering on Michael Dukakis's presidential campaign in 1988.

1988: Tanden Meets Future Husband While Volunteering

While volunteering for Michael Dukakis's presidential campaign in 1988, Neera Tanden met her future husband, Benjamin Edwards, at the University of California, Los Angeles.

1992: Tanden Earns Bachelor's Degree from UCLA

In 1992, Neera Tanden received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

1992: Tanden Works on Bill Clinton's Presidential Campaign

Neera Tanden worked on Bill Clinton's successful presidential campaign in 1992.

1996: Tanden Graduates from Yale Law School

Neera Tanden graduated from Yale Law School with a Juris Doctor degree in 1996.

1996: Clinton Signs Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act

President Bill Clinton signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act, a major welfare reform bill, in 1996.

1999: Tanden Joins Hillary Clinton's Senate Campaign

Neera Tanden joined Hillary Clinton's Senate campaign as the deputy campaign manager and policy director in 1999.

2000: Tanden Joins Hillary Clinton's Senate Campaign

Neera Tanden joined Hillary Clinton's successful campaign for a United States Senate seat in New York in 2000.

2000: Tanden Serves as Policy Director for Clinton's Senate Campaign

Neera Tanden was instrumental in Hillary Clinton's successful Senate campaign in 2000, serving as her policy director.

2003: Founding of the Center for American Progress

In 2003, Neera Tanden played a key role in establishing the Center for American Progress (CAP).

2003: Tanden Becomes Legislative Director for Senator Clinton

Neera Tanden began her role as Senator Hillary Clinton's legislative director in 2003.

2003: Tanden's Role in the Founding of CAP

Neera Tanden was instrumental in the establishment of the Center for American Progress (CAP) in 2003, holding various senior positions within the organization.

2005: Tanden Concludes Role as Legislative Director

In 2005, Neera Tanden finished her tenure as Senator Hillary Clinton's legislative director.

2008: Tanden Supports Obama and Advises Clinton

In 2008, Neera Tanden worked on Barack Obama's presidential campaign and also served as an advisor to Hillary Clinton during her presidential run.

2008: Tanden Serves as Policy Director for Clinton's Presidential Campaign

Neera Tanden served as the policy director for Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign.

2010: Tanden Becomes Chief Operating Officer of CAP

In 2010, Neera Tanden assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer at the Center for American Progress.

October 2011: Comments on Libya and US Deficit

In October 2011, in a leaked email, Neera Tanden suggested that "oil-rich" nations like Libya should "partially pay back" the US for its intervention. She argued that this would be preferable to cuts in social programs. Her comments drew comparisons to Donald Trump's statements on seizing Iraq's oil resources.

November 1, 2011: Tanden Succeeds Podesta as CAP President

On November 1, 2011, Neera Tanden succeeded John Podesta as the president and CEO of the Center for American Progress.

September 2013: Tanden Comments on Syrian Intervention

In September 2013, Neera Tanden publicly shared her stance on the potential U.S. intervention in Syria. While acknowledging the dangers of an uninvolved global superpower, she ultimately expressed opposition to deploying American troops.

September 2013: Tanden's Tweet on Unpoliced World

In September 2013, Neera Tanden tweeted that "an unpoliced world is dangerous."

August 11, 2015: Tanden's Email about Lawrence Lessig

In an email exchange on August 11, 2015, Neera Tanden expressed strong disapproval of Lawrence Lessig, who was considering a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.

2015: Criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu and Hosting Event at CAP

In 2015, Neera Tanden and the Center for American Progress (CAP) criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his lobbying efforts against the Iran nuclear deal. Despite this, Tanden agreed to host Netanyahu at CAP for a forum, defending the decision by stating the importance of dialogue and engagement.

October 7, 2016: WikiLeaks Publishes Podesta's Emails

WikiLeaks published thousands of emails from John Podesta's Gmail account on October 7, 2016, including private exchanges with Neera Tanden.

2016: Matt Bruenig Fired from Demos After Tweets About Tanden

Blogger Matt Bruenig was dismissed from the think tank Demos in 2016 following tweets critical of Neera Tanden.

2016: Opposition to Bernie Sanders' Policy Proposals

During the 2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Neera Tanden opposed Bernie Sanders's proposals of a $15 per hour minimum wage and single-payer healthcare.

2016: Criticism from Bernie Sanders Campaigns

During the 2016 and 2020 Bernie Sanders presidential campaigns, many members expressed strong dislike for Neera Tanden. They drew a distinction between "progressives and Neera Tanden." Her nomination by President Biden was perceived as controversial by some, with Politico describing it as "the equivalent of rubbing salt in the wound."

2016: Tanden Advises Clinton's Campaign and Leads CAP

During the 2016 election, Neera Tanden advised Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign while also serving as the president of the Center for American Progress.

2016: Tanden Refocuses CAP After Clinton's Loss

Following Hillary Clinton's loss in the 2016 presidential election, Neera Tanden shifted the focus of the Center for American Progress to oppose the Trump administration and shape healthcare debates within the Democratic Party.

2016: Meeting with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi

In 2016, Neera Tanden met with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

2016: Controversy over Clinton's Welfare Reform Bill

In 2016, there was controversy surrounding Neera Tanden's alleged role in implementing Clinton's welfare reform bill, a claim which Tanden denied.

2016: Tanden's Role in Clinton's 2016 Presidential Campaign

Neera Tanden played a significant role in Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, both during the primaries and the general election.

2017: Support for the Fight for $15 Movement

In 2017, Neera Tanden expressed support for the Fight for $15 movement, advocating for a $15 minimum wage.

2018: Tanden Reveals Identity of Harassment Accuser

Neera Tanden faced criticism in 2018 after revealing the identity of an employee who had made sexual harassment allegations at the Center for American Progress, prompting an apology from Tanden.

March 2019: Criticism of US Recognition of Golan Heights Annexation

Neera Tanden criticized the U.S. recognition of Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights in March 2019, calling it "a blatant political move" to benefit Benjamin Netanyahu.

2019: Support for Julian Assange's Arrest

In 2019, Neera Tanden expressed support for the arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, accusing him of being "the agent of a proto fascist state, Russia, to undermine democracy."

2019: Criticism from Senator Bernie Sanders

In 2019, Senator Bernie Sanders wrote a letter accusing Neera Tanden of "maligning my staff and supporters and belittling progressive ideas."

2019: Allegations Surface of Physical Altercation Involving Tanden

In 2019, allegations surfaced that Neera Tanden had been involved in a physical altercation with Faiz Shakir in 2008, during Clinton's presidential campaign.

April 28, 2020: Named to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy's Restart and Recovery Commission

On April 28, 2020, Neera Tanden was named to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy's Restart and Recovery Commission. The commission's purpose was to prepare the state to reopen after its COVID-19 lockdown.

November 2020: Biden Nominates Tanden for OMB Director

In November 2020, President-elect Joe Biden nominated Neera Tanden for the position of Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

November 30, 2020: Nominated for Director of the Office of Management and Budget

On November 30, 2020, President-elect Joe Biden nominated Neera Tanden for Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Following the announcement, Tanden deleted over 1,000 of her previous tweets and changed her Twitter bio from "progressive" to "liberal." Her nomination sparked controversy, with critics highlighting her past criticisms of Republican senators.

2020: Tanden's Nomination and Reflections on Her Upbringing

During her nomination for OMB Director in 2020, Neera Tanden reflected on her upbringing and the importance of social programs, highlighting how her family relied on welfare after her parents' divorce.

2020: Criticism from Bernie Sanders Campaigns

2020: Faiz Shakir Manages Bernie Sanders' Presidential Campaign

Faiz Shakir served as the campaign manager for Bernie Sanders during his 2020 presidential run.

2020: Criticism of Modi Government

In 2020, Neera Tanden criticized the Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for permitting a climate of violence against Muslims in India.

2020: CAP Promotes "Medicare Extra for All" Plan

In 2020, the Center for American Progress, under Neera Tanden's leadership, put forward a "Medicare Extra for All" healthcare plan as an alternative to the "Medicare for All" proposal.

February 2021: Opposition to Nomination

In February 2021, Senator Joe Manchin announced his opposition to Neera Tanden's nomination for OMB Director due to her past "overtly partisan statements." This opposition put her approval in doubt due to the 50-50 split in the Senate. Other senators, including Susan Collins, Rob Portman, Mitt Romney, and Pat Toomey also voiced their opposition.

March 2, 2021: Withdrawal of Nomination for OMB Director

On March 2, 2021, at Neera Tanden's request, the Biden administration withdrew her nomination to head the Office of Management and Budget. Tanden stated that there was no path forward to gain confirmation and she did not want her nomination to be a distraction from other priorities.

March 25, 2021: Nomination Officially Withdrawn

On March 25, 2021, Neera Tanden's nomination for OMB Director was officially withdrawn.

May 14, 2021: Appointed as Senior Advisor to President Biden

Neera Tanden was appointed as a senior advisor to President Biden on May 14, 2021. In this role, she will focus on planning for policy changes related to healthcare and initiating a review of the United States Digital Service.

May 2021: Tanden Appointed Senior Advisor to President Biden

In May 2021, Neera Tanden was appointed as a senior advisor to President Biden.

October 2021: Named President Biden's Staff Secretary

In October 2021, Neera Tanden was named President Biden's staff secretary, reporting to Ron Klain. She will also continue to serve as a senior advisor in the Biden White House.

October 2021: Tanden Named White House Staff Secretary

Neera Tanden was appointed as the White House Staff Secretary in October 2021.

2021: Stepped down from leadership of CAP

In 2021, Neera Tanden stepped down from her leadership of the Center for American Progress (CAP) after being named a Biden advisor. Patrick Gaspard took over her roles as president and CEO.