Biden pulls Tanden nomination for budget chief

U.S. President Joe Biden withdrew Neera Tanden's nomination to serve as budget director on Tuesday, bowing to pressure from lawmakers over her controversial tweets.

In a statement, Biden wrote that he had accepted Tanden’s request to withdraw her name from consideration.

And in a letter to the president released by the White House, Tanden wrote that she did not want her nomination to be a quote "distraction" from other priorities.

It's the first Senate rebuff of one of Biden's nominees, and reflects the tenuous hold Democrats have on the upper chamber, which is split 50-50 with Republicans.

During her confirmation hearings, Tanden had apologized for bashing Republicans on Twitter in the past, but was ultimately unable to win any GOP support.

And her confirmation appeared doomed last week when moderate Democratic senator Joe Manchin also said he would not vote to approve her.

The confirmation fight further underscores the challenges Biden will face as he works with a narrowly divided Congress.

However, Biden has said that he still plans to have Tanden serve in his administration in some capacity.