A new Acting Secretary of Transportation has taken office in the wake of the abrupt resignation of Elaine Chao.
On January 12, former Deputy Secretary of Transportation Steve Bradbury was named Acting Secretary of Transportation.
Bradbury was sworn in on November 28, 2017, as the 23rd General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and since September 10, 2019, Bradbury has been performing the functions and duties of the Office of Deputy Secretary of Transportation.
Chao announced her resignation on January 7 in response to violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. At that time, Chao called on Biden nominee Pete Buttigieg to take over running the DOT.
In a message to DOT personnel, Bradbury said that his focus was to “keep the Department under steady leadership and ensure an orderly transfer of power to the incoming team on January 20th.”
Bradbury also praised Chao for her leadership of the DOT: “Let me take this opportunity, as well, to thank Secretary Chao for her tremendous service to the Department and the Nation. Under her strong leadership this past four years, supported by the tireless efforts and dedication of the men and women of DOT, we have accomplished much: We have advanced the safety of our Nation’s transportation systems, helped pave the way for the future of mobility, strengthened America’s infrastructure, and provided effective assistance in response to the COVID public health emergency. All of us share in these accomplishments, and we wish Secretary Chao success and happiness in her future endeavors.”