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| Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy | |
|---|---|
| Post | Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy |
| Body | United States Department of Transportation |
| Insignia | DOT seal |
| Incumbent | M. A. “Mike” Reardon |
| Style | Under Secretary |
| Reports to | United States Secretary of Transportation |
| Appointed by | President of the United States |
| Formation | 20th century |
| Inaugural | J. Robert Kerrey |
Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy is a senior executive position within the United States Department of Transportation responsible for advising the United States Secretary of Transportation and coordinating national transportation policy across modal agencies. The office synthesizes analysis from sources such as the Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and Federal Railroad Administration to inform decisions on infrastructure, safety, environmental compliance, and economic regulation. The Under Secretary interacts frequently with the United States Congress, the White House, state chief executives such as Governors of California, and international bodies including the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization.
The Under Secretary leads policy development, strategic planning, and analytic functions that support the United States Secretary of Transportation and the President of the United States on matters involving the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Maritime Administration, and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Core duties include producing regulatory impact analyses for proposed rules under statutes like the National Environmental Policy Act and the Administrative Procedure Act, coordinating with stakeholders such as the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the Airlines for America, the Association of American Railroads, the American Public Transportation Association, and advising on grant programs tied to legislation such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act. The office often provides testimony before committees such as the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
The Under Secretary role evolved as the United States Department of Transportation matured after its creation under the Department of Transportation Act during the Richard Nixon administration, with subsequent statutory refinements in later presidencies including Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. The position expanded in scope during eras of major legislation such as the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act. The office adapted through crises overseen by administrations including George W. Bush during Hurricane Katrina response and Barack Obama during Deepwater Horizon oil spill policy coordination, reflecting shifting priorities set by successive secretaries such as Norman Mineta, Ray LaHood, and Anthony Foxx.
The Under Secretary heads a policy office that supervises divisions focused on modal integration, economic analysis, international affairs, and environmental policy, working with sub-agencies and offices including the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation. Notable officeholders have included career officials and political appointees who previously served in capacities at entities like the Federal Aviation Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, United States Congress, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and major law firms or think tanks such as the Brookings Institution and the Heritage Foundation. The roster of predecessors has interacted with figures such as John A. Volpe, Norman Y. Mineta, Elaine Chao, and Pete Buttigieg during their tenures.
The Under Secretary is nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate under advice and consent procedures established by the United States Constitution. Nominees undergo vetting by the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and background investigation coordinated with the Office of Government Ethics and Federal Bureau of Investigation security clearance processes. Confirmation hearings typically address expertise demonstrated in roles at organizations like the American Public Transportation Association, Airports Council International, state departments such as the California Department of Transportation, and prior service in administrations of presidents such as Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.
Policy portfolios include modal coordination among the Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, and Federal Transit Administration; safety regulation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; infrastructure finance interacting with the Treasury Department and agencies like the Office of Management and Budget; environmental compliance under the Environmental Protection Agency and statutes such as the Clean Air Act; and resilience planning connected to Federal Emergency Management Agency initiatives. Major initiatives often reference multimodal projects funded through programs influenced by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, disaster response frameworks after events like Hurricane Sandy, and international agreements involving the International Maritime Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization.
The Under Secretary coordinates interagency efforts with executive branch entities including the White House National Security Council, the Council on Environmental Quality, the Department of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Environmental Protection Agency to align transportation policy with national priorities. Collaboration extends to federal regulatory counterparts such as the United States Postal Service on logistics, the Department of Commerce on trade and ports, and the Federal Communications Commission on spectrum matters affecting aviation and connected vehicles. Joint initiatives have involved partnerships with international institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund on infrastructure financing.
Controversies involving the office have included debates over regulatory rollback and deregulatory proposals under various administrations including George W. Bush and Donald Trump, disputes over infrastructure allocation during implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and scrutiny during emergency responses to incidents like Deepwater Horizon oil spill and airline safety crises involving carriers such as United Airlines and American Airlines. Congressional investigations led by committees including the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee have at times examined policy decisions and interagency coordination tied to the Under Secretary's remit.
Category:United States Department of Transportation offices