White House ‘War Room’ Assembled to Push Labor Secretary Pick

Top White House advisers have assembled a nightly “war room” in recent weeks to discuss how to get President Joe Biden‘s choice for labor secretary through the US Senate as the nomination languishes.

Biden’s advisers held daily calls to talk about Julie Su’s nomination even as the US teetered on the brink of defaulting on its debt, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday. The administration rarely shares details publicly on its confirmation efforts—a tactic Jean-Pierre diverted from during the press briefing. However, she didn’t outright say Su’s nomination is in trouble.

“White House and administration officials have launched a full-court press engaging senators whose vote will be key to Su’s nomination,” Jean-Pierre said.

Su’s nomination to succeed Marty Walsh, the first cabinet-level department chief to leave Biden’s administration, has been paralyzed in the Senate with a handful of Democrats still publicly undecided.

Business groups have raised concerns about Su’s past work as California’s labor secretary and her role in implementing a contentious state worker-classification law known as AB5. Republicans have also criticized her management of California’s unemployment insurance system during her time in the Golden State’s government, citing rampant jobless aid fraud during the coronavirus pandemic.

White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and Legislative Affairs Director Louisa Terrell speak with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) daily about the nomination, Jean-Pierre said.

Biden since taking office has vowed to be the most “pro-worker president in our history.” He’s made unions a centerpiece of his 2024 campaign. He will appear at a campaign rally hosted by unions in Philadelphia on Saturday, his first since announcing his run for reelection.

If confirmed, Su would become the first Asian American Cabinet secretary in Biden’s administration.