In an 86-13 vote, the US Senate confirmed the nomination of Pete Buttigieg as the Transportation Secretary on Tuesday. Buttigieg, a 39-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is the first Senate-confirmed LGBTQ Cabinet secretary.
The Biden Administration also announced additional key members of its U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) team who are joining the Department this week. This diverse and experienced group will join with USDOT civil servants and other appointees already hard at work on behalf of the American people to advance President Biden’s agenda to build our country back better.
“We welcome this experienced group who will work on behalf of the American people to build our country back better than it was before,” said Laura Schiller, Chief of Staff. “They join a growing team that is committed to protecting the safety of workers and travelers, supporting economic recovery, ensuring racial equity, and combating climate change.”
While additional people will be named later, the team starting this week includes:
- Pete Buttigieg, US Secretary of Transportation
- Priyal Amin, Deputy White House Liaison
- Dalia Batuuka, Special Assistant for Advance
- Tristan Brown, Deputy Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- Alexis Gonzaludo, Special Assistant to the Secretary
- Nick Hornedo, Digital Communications Manager
- Chris Meagher, Deputy Director of Public Affairs
- Arlando Teller, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs
- Andrew Wishnia, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Climate Policy
