Transportation nominee Elaine Chao argues private spending should help fund Trump's infrastructure plans

Transportation secretary nominee Elaine Chao argued Wednesday during her Senate confirmation hearing that the government lacks the resources necessary to adequately address the country's infrastructure needs. Instead, Chao, who previously served as labor secretary under former President George W. Bush, advocated to "unleash the potential" of private investors to accomplish President-elect Donald Trump's extensive plans for revamping American infrastructure.
Chao did not offer any specific estimates on spending, only saying that it is "important to recognize that the way we build and deliver projects is as important as how much we invest." Trump's advisers have estimated his infrastructure plan will cost $1 trillion.
Chao also declined to offer specifics on whether she would support the privatization of the Federal Aviation Administration, an issue of contention for the House and Senate, and she did not say if she would enforce the 2018 deadline for railroads to install anti-collision technology. Chao said she has not yet been briefed on either issue.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
ABC News reported Chao is "expected to be easily confirmed by the Senate."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How Zohran Mamdani's NYC mayoral run will change the Democratic Party
Talking Points The candidate poses a challenge to the party's 'dinosaur wing'
-
Book reviews: '1861: The Lost Peace' and 'Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers'
Feature How America tried to avoid the Civil War and the link between lead pollution and serial killers
-
Brian Wilson: the troubled genius who powered the Beach Boys
Feature The musical giant passed away at 82
-
Economists fear US inflation data less reliable
speed read The Labor Department is collecting less data for its consumer price index due to staffing shortages
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement
-
Trump calls Amazon's Bezos over tariff display
Speed Read The president was not happy with reports that Amazon would list the added cost from tariffs alongside product prices
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores