26 January 2009
The Cabinet
Transportation
Secretary Ray LaHood
Confirmed January 22
Ray LaHood was selected by President-elect Barack Obama on December 19 to be the next secretary of transportation. LaHood, a Republican, was a representative from the state of Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives. He has served in the Illinois legislature and worked as an intermediate-school teacher. (See “Road to the White House.”)
The Department of Transportation, established 1966
Mission: Serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future.
Staff: 53,500 employees
Duties: The department promotes the safety and reliability of the various modes of passenger and cargo transportation — by air, rail, highway and pipeline. Key agencies include the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Highway Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
History: Established in 1966, the department once included the U.S. Coast Guard, but that service, along with other security-related agencies across the federal government, was transferred to the new Department of Homeland Security in 2003.
International engagement: The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs works with international partners to develop and coordinate domestic and international aviation policies.
Fun fact: Maintenance of the 75,000-kilometer U.S. Interstate Highway System is made possible by the Interstate Construction Program administered by the Federal Highway Administration.
More information: http://www.dot.gov
