President Joe Biden’s nominee for secretary of transportation Pete Buttigieg said he would carry out the administration’s agenda to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure during his confirmation hearing this morning. The 39-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana said Biden’s plan is a “generational opportunity” to create new jobs, fight economic inequality, and stem climate change.
He testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
“We need to build our economy back, better than ever, and the Department of Transportation can play a central role in this,” according to remarks prepared for his confirmation hearing. “You have my commitment that I will work closely with you to deliver the innovation and growth that America needs in this area.”
Buttigieg was among the first batch of cabinet selections getting hearings this week as Biden urges the new Democratic-led Senate to quickly confirm his nominees.
Also today, the Biden Administration announced key members of the DOT leadership team.
Lana Hurdle, deputy assistant secretary for Budget & Programs, will serve as Acting Secretary of Transportation until Buttigieg is confirmed by the full Senate. The initial team includes:
- Amit Bose, Deputy Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration
- Ann Carlson, Chief Counsel, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Florence Chen, Special Assistant for Policy
- Casey Clemmons, Special Assistant, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- Steve Cliff, Deputy Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Christopher Coes, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy
- Nuria Fernandez, Deputy Administrator, Federal Transit Administration
- Robert Hampshire, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
- Maurice Henderson, Senior Advisor
- Danielle Hirshberg, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations
- Justine Hong, Director of Executive Secretariat
- Robin Hutcheson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Safety Policy
- Subash Iyer, Chief Counsel, Federal Transit Administration
- Meera Joshi, Deputy Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Tatjana Kunz, Special Assistant for Policy
- Lucinda Lessley, Deputy Administrator, Maritime Administration
- Diana Lopez, Senior Advisor to the Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration
- Irene Marion, Director, Departmental Office of Civil Rights
- Edward McGlone, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs (House)
- Philip A. McNamara, Assistant Secretary for Administration
- A. Bradley Mims, Deputy Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration
- Carlos Monje Jr., Senior Advisor and Acting Chief of Staff
- Allie Panther, White House Liaison
- Alex A. Peña, Special Assistant to the General Counsel
- Carol A. (Annie) Petsonk, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs
- Stephanie Pollack, Deputy Administrator, Federal Highway Administration
- John Putnam, Deputy General Counsel
- Will Rasky, Special Assistant for Governmental Affairs
- Courtenay Raymond, Director of Scheduling and Advance
- Andrew Rogers, Chief Counsel, Federal Highway Administration
- Laura Schiller, Chief of Staff
- Michael Shapiro, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy
- Sophie Shulman, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy
- Dani Simons, Assistant to the Secretary and Director of Public Affairs
- Charles Small, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs
- Mohsin Syed, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs (Senate)
- Charlene Wang, Special Assistant, Federal Highway Administration
- Victoria Baecher Wassmer, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Finance and Budget
- Vinn White, Senior Advisor for Implementation
- Laurence Wildgoose, Assistant Administrator for Policy, International Affairs, and Environment, Federal Aviation Administration
