President Trump will nominate an official from ride-sharing company Lyft Inc. as under secretary of transportation for policy.
Derek Kan is general manager for Lyft’s Southern California region but worked as a policy adviser to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell earlier in his career. McConnell is the husband of Transportation Sec. Elaine Chao.
Kan most recently served on Amtrak’s board, which he was unanimously confirmed to by the Senate in 2015. He also worked as director of strategy at a Silicon Valley start-up and consulted for Bain & Company.
Kan will be charged with drafting policy guidance related to the country’s vehicles, airplanes, railroads, pipelines, ports and highways.
Among the policies the Transportation Department is re-evaluating as a new administration, the Obama administration’s guidelines that companies like Lyft and Uber require of drivers will be considered.
Kan could become an integral part of the administration’s plan to overhaul the country’s infrastructure.
