Senate Panels OK Bradbury for DOT, Chavez-DeRemer for Labor
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A Senate panel recently approved the nomination of Steven Bradbury to help lead the Department of Transportation as deputy secretary.
On Feb. 27, the Commerce Committee to the floor of the chamber by a 15-13 party-line vote. Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) led the successful in-committee nomination process.
“Bradbury will bring a deep understanding of how the department and our transportation systems operate,” Cruz said. “He is intimately familiar with the department’s past attempts to address transportation challenges, such as aviation safety, and has learned from his experiences. This background will be invaluable in his new role, when he is confirmed.
“Mr. Bradbury is also a forward-thinking and receptive leader. My colleagues have raised questions about the role of outside voices at DOT, especially in light of Secretary [Sean] Duffy’s decision to invite representatives from external organizations to visit the [Federal Aviation Administration] Air Traffic Control System Command Center. But as our nominee reminds us, it’s often a good thing when bureaucracy is open to new voices and ideas — to new efficiencies. Otherwise, the tried-and-true approach will become tried and tarnished. It boggles the mind to think in an era of autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence, the FAA is still using paper printouts and floppy disks to manage air traffic.”
Democrats opposed the nominee. A vote in the chamber to confirm Bradbury has yet to be scheduled. If confirmed, he would join Duffy’s team at DOT at a time when a significant portion of the workforce’s performance is under review by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
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Responding to senators in February, the nominee insisted he would address what he described as ongoing concerns at the department. This included pursuing a variety of safety initiatives, implementing cost-benefit programs and proceeding with a deregulation agenda. To that point, he explained the aim would be “achieving rational deregulation and smart regulatory reform in accordance with the president’s directions and consistent with law and with the preservation of competitive markets and incentives for private investment in innovation.”
The former senior DOT official garnered praise from more than two dozen stakeholders. In a statement provided to the committee, American Trucking Associations said: “Mr. Bradbury’s previous experience at DOT during President [Donald] Trump’s first term in office makes him uniquely qualified for this important role. His familiarity with the inner workings of the agency ensures that he will be completely prepared to hit the ground running upon his confirmation, and Secretary Duffy will have the confidence to lean on his insights and expertise as they work to address pressing transportation challenges.”
“In addition to Mr. Bradbury’s government service,” according to ATA, “he also possesses an extensive record as a litigator, which would be an invaluable asset on issues related to regulatory enforcement. This is of particular concern to the trucking industry, as we seek common-sense rulemakings that enhance our ability to safely and efficiently deliver the nation’s freight. Based on Mr. Bradbury’s record, we believe that he would undoubtedly facilitate a trustworthy partnership between Congress, DOT and the commercial motor vehicle industry.”
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The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials added: “Having previously served as acting deputy secretary and general counsel of the U.S. Department of Transportation, we believe Deputy Secretary-designate Bradbury brings uniquely qualified leadership experience and understanding of USDOT to help deliver the safety, mobility and innovation goals outlined by Secretary Sean Duffy.”
Separately, a Senate committee on Feb. 27 approved the nomination of former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.) to become secretary of labor. By a vote of 13-9, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions panel reported the nomination to the floor of the chamber. A vote to confirm has yet to be scheduled.
During a hearing in February, the Labor nominee told senators she amended her viewpoints about previous support for certain labor and independent contractor bills. As she explained, “My job will be to implement President Trump’s policy vision, and my guiding principle will be President Trump’s guiding principle: Ensuring a level playing field for businesses, unions, and most importantly, the American worker. I also know that we will not always agree, but I promise there will never be surprises. My door will always be open, and I will never put my thumb on the scale.”
