Senate committee approves Buttigieg nomination for Secretary of Transportation
Pete Buttigieg, President Joe Biden’s nominee for the secretary of transportation, has moved a step further in the process following approval of the nomination by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.
The vote was 21-3 with Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Rick Scott (R-FL) being the three to vote against the nomination.
The committee’s chair, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) said he looked forward to seeing the full Senate confirm Buttigieg and working with him in his role leading the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“Transportation issues historically have been addressed on a bipartisan basis, and I expect to continue that practice with Mr. Buttigieg,” said Sen. Wicker.
The committee’s ranking member and incoming chair, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), praised Buttigieg’s experience in her opening statement during the executive session held Jan. 27.
“As someone who had served our country, as a United States Navy reservist, including deployment in Afghanistan, he also, as a Rhodes Scholar, showed impressive understanding of the future of our transportation policies and the major changes that they are going through,” said Sen. Cantwell. “He understands what all of us have to deal with on transportation and infrastructure…I enthusiastically endorse this nomination and I asked my colleagues to support it as well.”
Buttigieg posted his gratitude to the committee members on Twitter and noted he looked forward to working with the committee in the future.
The Senate has scheduled a vote on Buttigieg's nomination for noon on Tuesday, Feb. 2.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
