Trump Is Expected to Name Elaine Chao as Transportation Secretary

Trump is expected to formally name Chao for the post in an announcement Tuesday afternoon.

Chao didn’t speak English when she arrived with her family in the U.S.at age 8 from Taiwan, according to a biography on her website.

“From her experience as Deputy Transportation Secretary under President George H.W. Bush, Secretary Chao understands the issues we face as we try to keep America’s freight moving safely and efficiently”, he said.

President-elect Donald Trump has picked Elaine Chao to become transportation secretary, according to a Trump source.

President-elect Donald Trump ran an insurgent, anti-establishment campaign, but the latest addition to his prospective cabinet is about as establishment as it gets. Shipping has been a thread in Elaine Chao’s career, as has political service.

If confirmed, Chao wouldn’t be the first transportation secretary with Congressional entanglements-Elizabeth Dole held the position in the ’80s as her husband Sen. “I am pleased to nominate Elaine as Secretary of the Department of Transportation”, as reported by NPR. Secretary-designate Chao’s many years of public service will serve her well in carrying out the hard task – as the President-elect has promised – of rebuilding our badly aging transportation system and infrastructure. Since leaving the government, Chao has been a distinguished fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

A government-backed public works project has also been mentioned and she likely would be involved in that as well.

In an official announcement of the nomination, Trump said that Chao has “an fantastic life story” as well as an “extensive record of strong leadership and expertise”, Efe news agency reported.

There are just over 4,000 political appointments to be made by the incoming Trump administration.