A Black woman is leading the White House budget office for the first time

Shalanda Young has made history as the first Black woman to lead the White House budget office following her approval to the position by a bipartisan vote of 61-36 on Tuesday, March 15.

According to the White House’s website, the White House budget office (Office of Management and Budget) “serves the President of the United States in overseeing the implementation of his or her vision across the Executive Branch. OMB’s mission is to assist the President in meeting policy, budget, management, and regulatory objectives and to fulfil the agency’s statutory responsibilities,”

Prior to her endorsement, Young served as the acting director of the office. The Senate had previously voted to confirm her as the deputy director of the White House budget office. She rose to become acting director after Neera Tanden’s nomination was withdrawn because Tanden lacked enough support in the Senate, according to CNN.

Young was also the first Black woman to serve as the staff director of the House Appropriations Committee in 2017. She worked on the committee for over 14 years.

“It shouldn’t have taken this long to confirm someone as obviously as qualified as Shalanda Young. She’s been leading the OMB for nearly a year. She knows the budget and appropriations processes like the back of her hand,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D – New York) said.

“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.”

“Congratulations on this historic achievement, Shalanda! You continue to make your home state proud,” Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards tweeted.

Young, a former senior aide on Capitol Hill who grew up in Clinton, La., has earned degrees from Loyola University New Orleans and Tulane University. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the former and a Master’s Degree from the latter.

She began her career at the National Institutes of Health in 2001 and moved to the House Appropriations Committee in 2007, according to The New York Times.

“I want to thank the president for the trust he has placed in me, as well as members of both parties in the Senate for their support,” Young said in a statement.

“Together with the extraordinary team at O.M.B., we will continue to build on the historic progress our country has made, advance the president’s ambitious agenda and deliver results for the American people,” she said.