Politics

White House Withdraws Yet Another Nominee Amid Backlash Over Biden’s ‘Climate Change Agenda’

(Screenshot/YouTube/UCLA BurkleCenter for International Relations)

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Alexa Schwerha Contributor
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The White House withdrew Ann Carlson’s nomination to head the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the White House announced Tuesday.

Biden had named Carlson, who serves as chief counsel, as his pick for NHTSA administrator in February, and the nomination was sent to the Senate on March 27. The administration informed the Senate of the withdrawal, according to the White House, and a source familiar with the matter told the Daily Caller News Foundation that Carlson chose to withdraw her nomination (RELATED: Biden Expected To Withdraw Judicial Nominee Who Faced Pushback From Dems: REPORTS)

“Ann Carlson is an exceptionally capable, expert, and dedicated public servant who gets things done. During her time in leadership at NHTSA, the agency has overseen safety recalls affecting more than 68.8 million vehicles in the United States, finalized 18 rules, and seen roadway deaths decline three consecutive quarters,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement shared with the Daily Caller News Foundation. “Ann’s service has helped advance NHTSA’s mission to save lives and reduce the economic costs of roadway crashes. I am grateful that Ann will continue to serve at NHTSA as we pursue further work to make our roads safer.”

The White House did not give a specific reason in their announcement and did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

Senate Republicans on the Senate Commerce Committee wrote to Carlson on May 1 regarding concerns that they had about her “past career” and her work at the NHTSA. Carlson, who is a University of California, Los Angeles, law professor, was named acting administrator of the NHTSA in September, according to a university announcement.

The lawmakers cited her support for fuel economy standards, which have prompted legal challenge, as a concern and alleged that her actions in the department mirror her “long career as an environmentalist without traffic safety experience.” They also allege her position in the NHTSA is “to advance” President Joe Biden’s “climate change agenda.”

Carlson did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.

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