President-elect Donald Trump has announced the appointment of a new head for the Department of Transportation.
Trump named former Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao as his administration’s Transportation Secretary. Chao served as Labor Secretary for all eight years of George W. Bush’s administration.
Chao, who is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, has acted as Deputy U.S. Secretary of Transportation. She has also served as chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission.
Chao’s long political career and dedication to improving the nation’s infrastructure could be major assets to the President-elect, who plans to spend $1 trillion on repairing and replacing American highways and bridges.
Chao appears to directly link the nation’s infrastructure with higher employment levels and economic success: “Coordinated transportation is one of the most important, and perhaps least appreciated, components of a transition from a life of unemployment and dependency for Americans to one of employment and productivity.”
ATA President Chris Spear approves of Chao’s nomination, “I had the privilege of serving with and working closely with Secretary Chao during my time at the Department of Labor, and I am extremely pleased that she will be taking on this new challenge. 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.”
Trump’s nomination must be confirmed by the Senate before it goes into effect.
Trump selects Elaine Chao, former Labor Secretary, as Transportation Secretary, an official says https://t.co/en4ukbfka5 pic.twitter.com/vlCQ0UaJaT
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) November 29, 2016
Sources:
The Detroit News
The Hill
NY Times
Slate