Biden Labor nominee stalls in Senate after Manchin, Menendez vote with GOP

President Biden’s nominee to serve as assistant secretary of the Labor Department, Jose Javier Rodriguez, stalled in the Senate Tuesday after Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Bob Menendez (N.J.) voted with Republicans to block him from advancing.  

An aide to Manchin said the West Virginia Democrat had concerns about Rodriguez’s “political activism and lack of experience.” 

Menendez’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.  

Biden first nominated Rodriguez to serve as the Labor Department’s assistant secretary for employment and training in July of 2021. Biden returned the nomination to the Senate at the start of the new Congress in January.