BY MORGAN CHALFANT
President Biden’s choice to serve as deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) has been given a position at the State Department after his nomination was blocked for months by Senate Republicans.
The State Department announced on Tuesday that Dilawar Syed would serve as the new special representative for commercial and business affairs, a role that is not subject to Senate confirmation.
A White House spokesman said that Syed is still a nominee for the No. 2 position at SBA and urged Republicans to allow a vote on him.
“We urge the GOP members of the Small Business Committee to do their job, show up and hold an up or down vote for Dilawar,” White House deputy press secretary Chris Meagher said. “He is extensively qualified at a time when the SBA is trying to help small businesses recover from the impacts of the pandemic.”