President-elect Trump announced Tuesday his decision to select Elaine Chao, former labor secretary in the George W. Bush administration, as his secretary of transportation.
“Secretary Chao’s extensive record of strong leadership and her expertise are invaluable assets in our mission to rebuild our infrastructure in a fiscally responsible manner,” Trump said in a statement Tuesday evening. “She has an amazing life story and has helped countless Americans in her public service career. I am pleased to nominate Elaine as secretary of the Department of Transportation.”
The wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Chao was the first Asian-American woman to secure a Cabinet position when she led the Labor Department from 2001-09. She also served as deputy transportation secretary under President George H.W. Bush.
“The president-elect has outlined a clear vision to transform our country’s infrastructure, accelerate economic growth and productivity, and create good paying jobs across the country,” Chao said. “I am honored to be nominated by the president-elect to serve my beloved country as transportation secretary.”
The position of transportation secretary in the Trump administration could take on special significance given his pledge to fund a massive infrastructure revitilization program. He has said the program will create thousands of jobs for the reconstruction of roads and bridges around the country.
Chao was among Bush’s most popular Cabinet secretaries with conservatives. At the helm of the Labor Department, Chao earned accolades for standing up to union corruption.
McConnell, her husband, said in a statement: “I am so proud of Elaine as she continues her accomplished career in public service. I am confident she will do an outstanding job for the nation in this new and important role.”
