Trump’s transportation chief prospects include former Uber exec, congress members, say sources

WASHINGTON – The Trump transition team is considering a former Uber executive and three current or former Republican congressmen – one of whom is now a Fox News host – to lead the US Department of Transportation (DOT), eight sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Mr Emil Michael, a Trump donor and technology entrepreneur who knows US billionaire and Tesla founder Elon Musk socially, has emerged as a leading contender, three of the sources said. Tech executives who backed US President-elect Donald Trump have advocated for the former Uber executive, two of the sources said.

Other candidates include Mr Sam Graves – a Missouri House of Representatives member and chair of its Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure – along with outgoing Republican Representative Garret Graves of Louisiana, and former Wisconsin Representative Sean Duffy, now a Fox News host, seven of the sources said.

Mr Sam Graves said in a statement he would be honoured if asked to serve as DOT chief and would consider the position. A spokesperson for Mr Garret Graves did not comment on the DOT prospect but said he had been advising Trump’s campaign on transportation and infrastructure issues.

Mr Michael declined to comment. Mr Duffy did not respond to a request seeking comment.

The eight sources who spoke with Reuters in some cases gave differing accounts of which candidate or candidates would most likely be tapped for DOT chief position. It is possible other contenders could emerge.

One of the sources said Mr Musk is a “fan” of Mr Michael. The tech entrepreneur is an investor in Mr Musk’s rocket company SpaceX, according to Mr Michael’s website.

Reuters could not determine if Mr Musk has advocated for Mr Michael’s hiring as DOT chief.

Transition planning

Mr Musk, the world’s richest person and one of Trump’s biggest campaign backers, is expected to exert influence over the pick for DOT chief, among other Trump appointments, Reuters has reported, citing a source close to the US President-elect and Mr Musk’s transition planning.

Mr Musk contributed at least US$119 million (S$159.8 million ) to a pro-Trump spending group, federal records show.

DOT, which has an annual budget of about US$110 billion, oversees regulations of pipelines, railroads, cars and trucks, transit systems as well federal funding for highway repairs and other infrastructure projects. It also sets fuel economy standards for cars and trucks and regulates aviation and is responsible for air traffic control through the US Federal Aviation Administration, one of its agencies.

The agency, which includes the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), regulates automakers including Mr Musk’s Tesla.

Mr Musk has said he will seek to push through changes in autonomous-vehicle regulation favourable to Tesla under a Trump administration.

NHTSA is investigating Tesla for crashes

, some fatal, involving its Full Self-Driving system, which is not fully autonomous and requires a human driver paying strict attention. The agency is also probing whether the carmaker’s recall of more than two million vehicles, announced in 2023, to install new autopilot safeguards is adequate following 20 crashes in vehicles that had the new software installed.

Tesla and Mr Musk did not respond to requests for comment.

Trump transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt

declined to comment on the transportation-chief candidates, saying the choice would be announced after it is finalised.

Mr Michael left Uber in 2017 following a workplace culture probe by former US attorney-general Eric Holder. Uber hired Mr Holder to conduct a wide-ranging investigation into the company’s culture after a former engineer raised sexual harassment complaints at the company. 

One of Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick’s closest associates, Mr Michael helped oversee mergers, acquisitions and fund raising. Since leaving Uber, he has started an investment company, served on start-up boards and advised technology-focused hedge fund firms such as Coatue Management.

During the Obama administration, he served as a White House fellow, working in the US Department of Defence as a special assistant to Robert Gates from 2009 to 2011, and oversaw projects in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. REUTERS