Ex-Labor sec'y Elaine Chao up for head of DOT

WASHINGTON (Nov. 29, 2016) — President-elect Donald Trump has nominated former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao to head the Department of Transportation, a move greeted with support by at least one major trade association.

“President-elect Trump could not have picked a more qualified, experienced and dedicated individual to serve in this important role,” American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear said upon hearing about the nomination.

“I had the privilege of serving with and working closely with Secretary Chao during my time at the Department of Labor,” Mr. Spear said, “and I am extremely pleased that she will be taking on this new challenge.”

Ms. Chao, 63, was secretary of labor under President George W. Bush for the full eight years of his administration.

An immigrant from Taiwan, Ms. Chao joined the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based policy group, in June as a distinguished fellow focusing on topics including employment, labor mobility and trade, according to an online biography.

Before being nominated by President Bush, Ms. Chao held a number of other key positions, including: president and CEO of United Way of America; director of the Peace Corps; deputy secretary of the DOT; chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission; and a White House Fellow.  

Prior to her government service, she was vice president of Syndications at BankAmerica Capital Markets Group and a banker with Citicorp in New York.

She also sits on the boards of News Corp., Wells Fargo & Co., Vulcan Materials Co. and Ingersoll-Rand P.L.C., according to data gathered by Bloomberg.

“From her experience as Deputy Transportation Secretary under President George H.W. Bush, Secretary Chao understands the issues we face as we try to keep America's freight moving safely and efficiently,” Mr. Spear said in a statement issued by the ATA.

“We are eager to support her as our country and our industry work to improve our roads and bridges, improve safety, and harness the potential that emerging technologies have to continue to move our country forward.”

She is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Ms. Chao will face a number of key decisions at the agency that overseas the nation's vehicles, airplanes, railroads, pipelines, ports and highways and likely will be involved in Mr. Trump's plans to rebuild U.S. infrastructure.

The president-elect's transition website says the new administration seeks “to invest $550 billion to ensure we can export our goods and move our people faster and safer.” The details on the structure of the plan have yet to be published.

The Transportation Department regulates airlines, automobiles, railroads, trucking and busing with an annual budget of about $95 billion and more than 57,000 employees.

Among its operating units are the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Railroad Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.