President-elect Trump Picks Elaine Chao as DOT Chief

President-elect Donald Trump has picked former U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao to lead the Department of Transportation in his incoming administration. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Chao would become U.S. Secretary of Transportation at a time when federal regulators are scrambling to craft new rules for self-driving cars as automakers and tech companies race to develop the new technology.

The transportation department will also be involved in a review of federally mandated fuel economy standards that is scheduled to take place in 2018. Automakers have been pushing the Trump administration to roll back a mandate from outgoing President Barack Obama’s administration that requires them to achieve a fleet-wide average of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.

Chao led the Labor Department for the full eight years President George W. Bush was in office. She formerly was Deputy U.S. Secretary of Transportation and Chairwoman of the Federal Maritime Commission.