Donald Trump Selects Elaine Chao as Transportation Secretary
Chao served as labor secretary under George W. Bush
— -- President-elect Donald Trump announced Elaine Chao as his pick for transportation secretary today.
“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. “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.”
She served as labor secretary under George W. Bush and was the only Cabinet official to serve through all eight years of his presidency. She was the first Asian-American female member of a U.S. Cabinet.
Chao, who was born in Taiwan and immigrated to the United States as a child, met with Trump at Trump Tower in New York City last week. She is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Appointments to the position of transportation secretary require confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
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