Pete Buttigieg to be Biden’s Potential Transportation Secretary

Dec. 17, 2020

President-elect Joe Biden will nominate former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg to be Transportation Secretary, according to several reports. If confirmed, Buttigieg will head to Washington to take responsibility for nearly 55,000 employees, an $87 billion budget and more than a dozen administrations, overseeing the nation’s highway system, pipeline safety, and more. 

According to a Politico report, Buttigieg’s transportation expertise pales in comparison to other candidates passed over for the job. However, was one of the first candidates to put out an infrastructure plan—a detailed $1 trillion proposal. He prioritized upgrading the country's crumbling infrastructure and expanding broadband internet access, according to CNN.

Biden says that he sees the Department of Transportation as the "site of some of our most ambitious plans to build back better" and that he trusts "Mayor Pete to lead this work with focus, decency, and a bold vision."

Leading DOT could help Buttigieg continue to “expand his network,” one transportation lobbyist told Politico. “There would be countless groundbreakings, particularly if there’s a stimulus package put together," they said.