UPDATE 2: Biden nominates key administration positions for stalled picks

(Additional White House confirmation statement, confirmation

Trevor Hunnicutt, David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters), Jan. 3 (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden renominated a few stalled nominees for a slate federal posts, including nominations for the Internal Revenue Service, Federal Aviation Administration and ambassador to India.

The U.S. Senate, which was 50-50 divided between Republicans and Democrats at the time, did not approve the selections. Vice President Kamala Harris broke off all ties. The new Senate convened Tuesday.

Since January 2021, Democrats have not been able to win a majority of FCC’s five members, which is the telecom regulator. This has prevented them from moving forward with key priorities, including reinstating the landmark net neutrality rules that were rescinded under President Donald Trump.

Biden nominated Gigi Sohn (Democrat), a former senior aide of President Barack Obama to fill the fifth key seat in October 2021.

Since March 31, the FAA was without a permanent administrator. The Senate Commerce Committee has not held a hearing regarding Phil Washington, Denver International Airport Chief Executive, Biden’s choice to lead the FAA. Republicans had criticized Washington after he was named as a subject of a search warrant linking him to corruption allegations at Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Washington, the former CEO for Los Angeles’ public transport system has denied wrongdoing.

Billy Nolen is the FAA’s top safety officer for aviation. He has been managing the agency interim.

Biden has also nominated Eric Garcetti for the role of ambassador to India.

Garcetti was the Los Angeles mayor between 2013 and 2013, when a term limit forced him out of office. He is now a close friend to Biden, having co-chaired his 2020 presidential candidacy.

His nomination was blocked in the Senate due to concerns from Democrats about allegations that he had ignored complaints about sexual harassment by his political associates and used abusive language. Garcetti denied any wrongdoing.

Biden also renominated Dilawar Syed to be deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration after Republicans last year held up a vote due to the nominee’s association with an advocacy group that has been critical of Israel. (Reporting from Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington and David Shepardson In Washington Writing by Ismail Shakil, Katharine Johnson Editing by CaitlinWebber and Matthew Lewis