Reports from multiple outlets on Tuesday morning suggest that Elaine Chao will be nominated as President-elect Donald Trump's secretary of transportation.
Chao previously served as secretary of labor under President George W. Bush. She is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.). An official announcement from the Trump transition team is expected later on Tuesday, the New York Times reported.
The choice of Ms. Chao, which is expected to be announced later Tuesday, was confirmed by someone with direct knowledge of Mr. Trump’s decision.
The selection, which requires confirmation by the Senate, is the latest as Mr. Trump continues to fill senior posts in his administration. So far many of the highest stature positions, like secretary of state and defense, remain open while the president-elect and his transition team continue their highly public process of receiving and interviewing candidates at Trump Tower. Ms. Chao met with Mr. Trump in New York on Nov. 21.
The transportation post could become a vital one in a Trump cabinet given Mr. Trump’s desires to see $1 trillion spent on revitalizing the nation’s roads, bridges, ports and other systems of public transit.
Chao will be the third female candidate to be nominated to Trump's cabinet. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley was selected to serve as ambassador to the United Nations, and school choice activist and philanthropist Betsy DeVos has been nominated for secretary of education.
Chao's service as labor secretary under Bush marked the first time an Asian-American woman was appointed to a cabinet-level position. She was the only member of Bush's cabinet to serve all eight years of his tenure in office.