United States Secretary of Transportation

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"Secretary of Transportation" redirects here. For the position of the same name in the Cabinet of the Philippines, see Secretary of Transportation (Philippines).

United States Secretary of Transportation
Seal of the United States Department of Transportation.svg
Seal of the Department
Flag of the United States Secretary of Transportation.svg
Flag of the Secretary
Steven G. Bradbury official photo.jpg
Incumbent
Steven G. Bradbury
Acting
since January 12, 2021
United States Department of Transportation
StyleMr. Secretary
(informal)
The Honorable
(formal)
Member ofCabinet
Reports toPresident of the United States
SeatWashington, D.C.
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Term lengthNo fixed term
Constituting instrument49 U.S.C. § 102
FormationOctober 15, 1966
(54 years ago) (1966-10-15)
First holderAlan Stephenson Boyd
SuccessionFourteenth[1]
DeputyDeputy Secretary of Transportation
SalaryExecutive Schedule, level I
Websitewww.transportation.gov

The United States secretary of transportation is the head of the United States Department of Transportation, a member of the president's Cabinet, and fourteenth in the presidential line of succession.[1]

The secretary of transportation oversees U.S. Department of Transportation and its thirteen agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.[2]

Steven G. Bradbury is currently the acting secretary of transportation. Bradbury took the position after former secretary Elaine Chao resigned on January 11, 2021 over the Capitol storming.

On December 15, 2020, President-elect Joe Biden announced that he will nominate Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and former 2020 presidential candidate, as Secretary of Transportation in his administration. If confirmed, Buttigieg would be the first openly LGBTQ+ cabinet secretary, as well as the youngest person to serve as Secretary of Transportation.

History[edit]

The post was created on October 15, 1966 by the Department of Transportation Act, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.[2] The department's mission is "to develop and coordinate policies that will provide an efficient and economical national transportation system, with due regard for need, the environment, and the national defense."[2]

The first secretary of transportation was Alan Stephenson Boyd, nominated to the post by Democratic president Lyndon B. Johnson. Ronald Reagan's second secretary of transportation, Elizabeth Dole, was the first female holder, and Mary Peters was the second. Gerald Ford's nominee William Thaddeus Coleman, Jr. was the first African American to serve as transportation secretary, and Federico Peña, serving under Bill Clinton, was the first Hispanic to hold the position, subsequently becoming the secretary of energy. Japanese-American Norman Mineta, who had previously been the secretary of commerce, is the longest-serving secretary, holding the post for over five and a half years,[2] and Andrew Card is the shortest-serving secretary, serving only eleven months. Neil Goldschmidt was the youngest secretary, taking office at age 39, while Norman Mineta was the oldest, retiring at age 74.[3] In April 2008, Mary Peters launched the official blog of the secretary of transportation called "The Fast Lane".[4] On January 23, 2009, the 16th secretary Ray LaHood took office, serving under the administration of Democrat Barack Obama; he had previously been a Republican Congressman from Illinois for fourteen years.[5] The salary of the secretary of transportation is $219,200.[6][7]

Anthony Foxx was the 17th US secretary of transportation from 2013 to 2017, when Barack Obama was the president. Elaine Chao, who served as the secretary of labor under President George W. Bush, was nominated by Donald Trump on November 29, 2016. On January 31, 2017, the Senate confirmed her appointment by a vote of 93–6. On January 7, 2021, Chao announced her resignation following the Capitol storming, effective January 11.[8] On January 11, 2021 acting Deputy Secretary of Transportaion Steven G. Bradbury filled the vacancy as acting Secretary of Transportation.

List of secretaries of transportation[edit]

Parties

  Democratic (7)   Republican (11)

Status

  Denotes acting Secretary of Transportation

  Nominee for Secretary of Transportation

No. Image Name State of residence Took office Left office President
serving under
1 Black-and-white photo of a balding man in a suit and striped tie Alan S. Boyd Florida January 16, 1967 January 20, 1969 Lyndon B. Johnson
2 Black-and-white photo of man in a suit and black tie John A. Volpe Massachusetts January 22, 1969 February 2, 1973 Richard M. Nixon
3 Color photo of a bald man wearing glasses and a suit with a striped tie Claude S. Brinegar California February 2, 1973 February 1, 1975
Gerald R. Ford
4 Black-and-white photo of an African American man in a suit wearing glasses looking to his left William T. Coleman, Jr. Pennsylvania March 7, 1975 January 20, 1977
5 Black-and-white photo of a man in a suit smiling Brock Adams Washington January 23, 1977 July 20, 1979 Jimmy Carter
6 Black-and-white photo of a man with a wide smile and short curly hair wearing a light-colored suit Neil E. Goldschmidt Oregon August 15, 1979 January 20, 1981
7 Black-and-white photo of a man wearing a suit sitting at a desk with his hands folded on it and the DOT logo and US flag behind him Drew Lewis Pennsylvania January 23, 1981 February 1, 1983 Ronald Reagan
8 Smiling woman wearing earrings and a red shirt Elizabeth H. Dole Kansas February 7, 1983 September 30, 1987
9 Black-and-white photo of a man in a suit and combed-over hair with the US flag behind him James H. Burnley IV North Carolina December 3, 1987 January 20, 1989
10 Smiling man with thinning hair wearing a suit and a blue tie with the US flag behind him Samuel K. Skinner Illinois February 6, 1989 December 13, 1991 George H. W. Bush
11 Smiling man wearing a suit and a red tie Andrew H. Card Massachusetts February 24, 1992 January 20, 1993
12 Hispanic man with large glasses and black hair with the US flag behind him Federico Peña Colorado January 21, 1993 February 14, 1997 Bill Clinton
13 African American man with short hair and a short mustache Rodney E. Slater Arkansas February 14, 1997 January 20, 2001
14 Older Japanese American man with glasses wearing a suit with a red tie with the US flag behind him Norman Y. Mineta California January 25, 2001 August 7, 2006 George W. Bush
15 Woman with long brown hair with the US flag behind hier Mary E. Peters Arizona October 17, 2006 January 20, 2009
16 Ray LaHood official DOT portrait.jpg Ray H. LaHood Illinois January 23, 2009 July 2, 2013 Barack Obama
17 Mayor Anthony Foxx, Charlotte NC Anthony R. Foxx North Carolina July 2, 2013 January 20, 2017
– Michael Huerta official picture.jpg Michael Huerta
Acting 		California January 20, 2017 January 31, 2017 Donald Trump
18 Elaine Chao official portrait 2 (cropped).jpg Elaine Chao Kentucky January 31, 2017 January 11, 2021
– Steven G. Bradbury official photo.jpg Steven G. Bradbury
Acting 		Oregon January 12, 2021 Incumbent
– Pete Buttigieg by Gage Skidmore.jpg Pete Buttigieg Indiana Nominee — Joe Biden

Line of succession[edit]

The line of succession regarding who would act as Secretary of Transportation in the event of a vacancy or incapacitation is as follows:[9]

  1. Deputy Secretary of Transportation
  2. Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy
  3. General Counsel
  4. Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs
  5. Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy
  6. Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs
  7. Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs
  8. Assistant Secretary for Administration
  9. Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration
  10. Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration
  11. Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
  12. Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration
  13. Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration
  14. Administrator of the Maritime Administration
  15. Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
  16. Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  17. Administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration
  18. Administrator of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
  19. Regional Administrator, Southern Region, Federal Aviation Administration
  20. Director, Resource Center, Lakewood, Colorado, Federal Highway Administration
  21. Regional Administrator, Northwest Mountain Region, Federal Aviation Administration

Living former secretaries of transportation[edit]

See also: List of living former members of the United States Cabinet

As of January 2021, there are twelve living former secretaries of transportation (with all secretaries that have served since 1983 still living), the oldest being Norman Mineta (served 2001–2006, born 1931). The most recent secretary of transportation to die was Alan S. Boyd (served 1967–1969, born 1922) on October 18, 2020. The most recently serving secretary of transportation to die was Andrew L. Lewis (served 1981–1983, born 1931), who died on February 10, 2016.

Name Term Date of birth (and age)
Neil Goldschmidt 1979–1981 (1940-06-16) June 16, 1940 (age 80)
Elizabeth H. Dole 1983–1987 (1936-07-29) July 29, 1936 (age 84)
James H. Burnley IV 1987–1989 (1948-07-30) July 30, 1948 (age 72)
Samuel K. Skinner 1989–1991 (1938-06-10) June 10, 1938 (age 82)
Andrew Card 1992–1993 (1947-05-10) May 10, 1947 (age 73)
Federico Peña 1993–1997 (1947-03-15) March 15, 1947 (age 73)
Rodney E. Slater 1997–2001 (1955-02-23) February 23, 1955 (age 65)
Norman Mineta 2001–2006 (1931-11-12) November 12, 1931 (age 89)
Mary Peters 2006–2009 (1948-12-04) December 4, 1948 (age 72)
Ray LaHood 2009–2013 (1945-12-06) December 6, 1945 (age 75)
Anthony Foxx 2013–2017 (1971-04-30) April 30, 1971 (age 49)
Elaine Chao 2017–2021 (1953-03-26) March 26, 1953 (age 67)

References[edit]

General
  • "Biographical Sketches of the Secretaries of Transportation". U.S. Department of Transportation. August 14, 2009. Archived from the original on March 16, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
Specific
  1. ^ a b 3 U.S.C. § 19: Vacancy in offices of both President and Vice President; officers eligible to act.
  2. ^ a b c d Grinder, R. Dale. "The United States Department of Transportation: A Brief History". U.S. Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on July 17, 2004. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  3. ^ "Biographical Sketches of the Secretaries of Transportation". U.S. Department of Transportation. August 14, 2009. Archived from the original on March 16, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2010.
  4. ^ "A Chronology of Dates Significant in the Background, History and Development of the Department of Transportation". U.S. Department of Transportation. August 14, 2009. Archived from the original on February 15, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2010.
  5. ^ "Ray LaHood—Secretary of Transportation". U.S. Department of Transportation. July 22, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2010.
  6. ^ (PDF) https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2020/EX.pdf. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ^ 5 U.S.C. § 5312: Positions at level I.
  8. ^ Elaine Chao to resign as transportation secretary in wake of riot
  9. ^ Obama, Barack (January 14, 2009). "Executive Order 13485: Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Transportation". NASA Online Directives Information System. Retrieved January 2, 2010.

External links[edit]

U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Ben Carson
as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 		Order of Precedence of the United States
as Secretary of Transportation 		Succeeded by
Dan Brouillette
as Secretary of Energy
U.S. presidential line of succession
Preceded by
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Ben Carson 		14th in line Succeeded by
Secretary of Energy
Dan Brouillette

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