Nominees for the top roles at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s agencies await consideration in the U.S. Senate. (YayaErnst/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON — Nominees for the top roles at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s agencies await consideration in the U.S. Senate.
Committees with jurisdiction are expected to schedule hearings as early as this spring on the nominations of officials picked to lead the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Federal Highway Administration, among other agencies.
Last month, the Trump White House tapped Derek Barrs, a former Florida Highway Patrol chief with more than three decades in public safety, to lead FMCSA. His credentials also include time as a consultant on traffic and commercial vehicle safety projects in several states.
American Trucking Associations touted his nomination.
Spear
“With nearly two decades of experience in law enforcement and the commercial motor vehicle industry, Derek Barrs’ career has been defined by his emphasis on making our roads safer for all motorists,” ATA President Chris Spear said March 25. “Derek’s extensive public service at the Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Highway Patrol make him exceptionally well qualified to be FMCSA administrator. He has a proven track record of strengthening ties between the trucking industry and public safety officers to address top transportation challenges such as drug impairment, cargo theft and human trafficking.”
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance also backed the FMCSA nominee. “Barrs’s extensive leadership in commercial motor vehicle safety and enforcement equips him with a unique perspective on issues impacting the commercial motor vehicle industry and positions him as an exceptionally qualified candidate to lead FMCSA,” CVSA Executive Director Collin Mooney wrote Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in February.
The Senate Commerce Committee has yet to schedule a hearing on Barrs’ nomination. Also on the committee’s radar are the nominations of Jonathan Morrison for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Brent Sadler for the Maritime Administration and Bryan Bedford to lead the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee intends to schedule consideration of Sean McMaster for the chief post at the Federal Highway Administration. McMaster served as a senior DOT official during Trump’s first term. Prior to that, he was a longtime congressional aide.
Earlier this month, Marc Molinaro, the nominee to lead the Federal Transit Administration, was approved by the Senate Banking Committee. A vote to confirm awaits in the Republican-led Senate. Molinaro told the committee March 27, if confirmed, he “will advance President [Donald] Trump’s bold ‘America First’ agenda for rebuilding our infrastructure, and meet Secretary Duffy’s high standards for leadership, innovation and accountability. I will work with each of you — regardless of party — to help build transit systems that deliver: for riders, for workers, for taxpayers and for the communities we all serve.”
“We are at a moment of great possibility: a golden age,” added Molinaro, most recently a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives. “Together, we can ensure that transit not only moves Americans — but helps move America forward.”
Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-S.C.) pointed to Molinaro’s experience “from his time serving in the House on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and a long career in local government… making him well-qualified for this role.”
Several stakeholders support his Senate confirmation.
American Public Transportation Association CEO Paul Skoutelas affirmed, “Molinaro’s experience and dedication to public transportation will position him to lead FTA. He knows firsthand the difference that public transportation makes in people’s daily lives.
“We look forward to working with Mr. Molinaro to drive economic growth, create American manufacturing jobs and build stronger communities through public transportation.”
