Secretary of the Department of Transportation Elaine Chao has announced that she will be resigning from her position, effective January 11th. This marks the end of the second-longest cabinet holding behind Mike Pence himself: Elaine Chao started January 31st, 2016.
Details
Elaine Chao cites the storming of the U.S. Capitol as her reason for not serving out her full term.
“Yesterday, our country experienced a traumatic and entirely avoidable event as supporters of the President stormed the capitol building following a rally he addressed. As I’m sure is the case with many of you, it has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside.”
Before becoming the Secretary of the DOT under Trump, Chao served almost eight years under George W. Bush as the Secretary of Labor, and Deputy Secretary of the DOT under George H.W. Bush. She is married to senate majority leader Mitch McConnell.
Elaine Chao was head of the DOT for many changes to regulations impacting truckers, such as the ELD Mandate and changes to on-duty driving time.
Conclusion
“We will help my announced successor Mayor Pete Buttigieg, with taking on the responsibility of running this wonderful department” Elain Chao said in a tweet.
It is currently unknown what will happen to the DOTin the time between Elain Chao’s resignation and Pete Buttgieg taking the position, two events that have a timeframe of about 20 days.
