Trump taps Elaine Chao for transportation secretary

Elaine Chao, who served as labor secretary under former President George W. Bush, is President-elect Donald Trump's pick for transportation secretary, The Associated Press confirmed Tuesday. Chao was previously involved with the Trump campaign's Asian Pacific American Advisory Committee. She is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Trump and Chao met at Trump Tower last week. The president-elect has outlined big plans for the Department of Transportation, proposing a $1 trillion investment on "roads, bridges, ports, and other systems of transportation," The New York Times reported.

In 2001, Chao became the first Asian-American Cabinet member, The Washington Post noted. With her role as transportation secretary, she will, somewhat amazingly, become the second woman to serve as both labor and transportation secretary and to be married to a Senate majority leader. The first woman to do so was Elizabeth Dole, who served under both former President George H.W. Bush and former President Ronald Reagan, and is married to former Sen. Bob Dole.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up