Thune signaled the potential for high-profile DOT nominees to appear before the transportation panels as early as this month. (Allison Robbert/Bloomberg News)
Members of Congress return to Washington the week of March 24 to consider senior officials for Department of Transportation agencies and President Donald Trump’s budget and tax plan.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) signaled the potential for high-profile DOT nominees to appear before the transportation panels as early as this month. A vote to confirm them would align with the Republican caucus’ aim of swiftly confirming Trump administration personnel.
Sean McMaster and Bryan Bedford, nominees to lead the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration, respectively, are awaiting hearings at committees of jurisdiction.
The president this month nominated McMaster for the top role at the agency overseeing surface transportation regulations. The nominee served as a senior DOT official during Trump’s first term. Before that, he was a longtime congressional aide.
McMaster
Central to FHWA’s agenda over the coming years will be rulemaking specific to autonomous vehicles and emerging technologies. The Biden-era $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law paved the way for expanding access to connected vehicle technologies along freight corridors.
Bedford, presently head of Republic Airways, was tapped to lead the nation’s aviation apparatus. With more than three decades of experience in the industry, senior transportation policymakers touted his credentials.
“As a pilot and someone with decades of firsthand experience in the aviation industry, Bryan is a great choice to lead the FAA,” House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Troy Nehls (R-Texas) said in a joint statement March 17.
“We look forward to working with him on modernizing and staffing our air traffic control system, ensuring the safety of the entire aviation system for travelers, and strengthening this critical component of our economy,” Graves and Nehls continued. “We can achieve this through implementation of the FAA Reauthorization Act as well as additional bipartisan and decisive action this Congress. We commend the president for nominating a candidate with an extensive background in aviation and a track record of success, and for doing so in a timely manner so that Congress can act swiftly to get an administrator in place at this critical time for our aviation system.”
Senate committees have yet to schedule hearings on the nominees.
Democrats urged Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to reconsider the ongoing in-depth workforce reorganizing at the department. (Rod Lamkey Jr./Associated Press)
Meanwhile, Democrats on the House transportation panel continue to raise concerns specific to DOT’s personnel updates. Led by Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), the T&I panel’s ranking member, Democrats urged Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to reconsider the ongoing in-depth workforce reorganizing at the department.
“The indiscriminate firing of probationary employees on Feb. 14 created uncertainty and strain on DOT employees. These terminations were carried out without any justification or notification to Congress regarding the process, the details or the impacts,” the Democrats wrote the secretary March 12.
Also, Congress as early as this month plans to start the consideration of a budget package meant to advance much of the president’s agenda. Following Congress’ approval of budget instructions, Republican leaders are aiming to pass Trump’s policy proposals before Memorial Day. The transportation committees are tasked with contributing to this procedural budget reconciliation, which would ultimately require simple majorities for enactment.
Trump’s priorities include enhancing border security and military readiness, promoting reforms to social safety net programs, boosting domestic energy and transportation systems and extending the 2017 tax cuts advanced during his first term. The president explained the process to reporters March 13: “Ultimately, we want to vote for one big, beautiful bill where we put the taxes in, we put everything in. We’re going to have big tax cuts. We’re going to have tremendous incentives for companies coming into our country and employing lots of people.”
