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| United States Deputy Secretary of Transportation | |
|---|---|
| Office name | United States Deputy Secretary of Transportation |
| Style | Madam/Sir Deputy Secretary |
| Department | United States Department of Transportation |
| Seat | Washington, D.C. |
| Appointer | President of the United States |
| Formation | 1967 |
United States Deputy Secretary of Transportation is the second-highest official in the United States Department of Transportation who assists the United States Secretary of Transportation in overseeing federal transport policy, coordinating modal administrations, and managing departmental operations. The Deputy interacts with executive agencies, congressional committees, state governments, metropolitan planning organizations, and international partners to implement statutes, regulations, and infrastructure programs enacted by the United States Congress and administered under presidential administrations.
The Deputy Secretary serves as the chief operating officer of the United States Department of Transportation, supervising the Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Maritime Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation while coordinating with the Office of Management and Budget, Council on Environmental Quality, General Services Administration, Department of Justice, and Department of Homeland Security. Responsibilities include executing provisions of landmark statutes such as the Interstate Highway Act, the Federal Aviation Act, the Surface Transportation Assistance Act, and the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, ensuring compliance with rulings of the Supreme Court of the United States and oversight by committees like the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
The office emerged as part of the establishment of the United States Department of Transportation in 1967 during the administration of Lyndon B. Johnson and was shaped by mid-20th century priorities including expansion of the Interstate Highway System, aviation safety reforms after incidents involving carriers such as Pan American World Airways and Trans World Airlines, and maritime policy influenced by the Merchant Marine Act of 1970. Over successive presidencies—Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden—the Deputy role adapted to crises including September 11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and supply-chain disruptions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. The office has evolved through interactions with regulatory milestones like the Airline Deregulation Act and infrastructure initiatives such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The Deputy is nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate following hearings before committees such as the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Nominees often have prior experience at agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration, Amtrak, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or roles in administrations like the Office of Management and Budget and the Council of Economic Advisers. Confirmation processes have involved scrutiny from Senators including Ted Kennedy, John McCain, Barbara Boxer, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, and Bill Frist and engagement with advocacy groups such as the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Transportation Trades Department, AFL–CIO, and environmental organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The Deputy coordinates deputy-level leadership across modal administrations and offices including the Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Transportation, the General Counsel of the Department of Transportation, the Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy, and the Federal Transit Administration Administrator. Notable offices reporting through the Deputy include the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Transportation, and regional offices interacting with state departments of transportation such as the California Department of Transportation and New York State Department of Transportation. Past occupants have moved between posts in entities such as Amtrak, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, NASA, Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
As principal deputy, the Deputy acts for the Secretary in absences, delegating operational authority for implementation of regulations promulgated under acts like the National Environmental Policy Act and the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008. The Deputy leads interagency working groups with participants from the Federal Communications Commission, Department of Defense, Department of Labor, and Department of Commerce on matters including aviation security, freight logistics, hazardous materials, and connected and automated vehicle policy influenced by research from institutions such as the National Academy of Sciences and the Transportation Research Board.
Individuals serving as Deputy have included career civil servants, political appointees, former legislators, and private-sector executives who later held roles at organizations like United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Boeing, Union Pacific Railroad, Siemens, and General Electric. Several deputies participated in high-profile initiatives with partners including the World Bank, International Civil Aviation Organization, European Commission, and North American Free Trade Agreement negotiators, and have testified before panels chaired by figures like Orrin Hatch, Henry Waxman, and John Lewis.
Compensation is set by statutory executive pay scales analogous to Executive Schedule Level II, aligning with other deputy cabinet positions within administrations of Presidents and overseen by the Office of Personnel Management. Succession follows department-specific orders of succession established by Secretarial delegation and statutes, coordinating with offices such as the General Services Administration during transitions and emergency successions as articulated in directives influenced by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998.
Category:United States Department of Transportation Category:United States Deputy Secretaries