Donald Trump has nominated former labor secretary Elaine Chao to be his transportation secretary, the campaign announced on Tuesday.

Chao became the first Asian American woman to hold a position in the cabinet when she served as labor secretary under George W Bush from 2001 to 2009.

“Secretary Chao’s extensive record of strong leadership and her expertise are invaluable assets in our mission to rebuild our infrastructure in a fiscally responsible manner,” said President-elect Trump. “She has an amazing life story and has helped countless Americans in her public service career.”



The Trump transition team statement emphasized Chao’s personal history as an immigrant from Taiwan.

“An immigrant who arrived in America at the age of eight speaking not a word of English, Chao received her US citizenship when she was 19 years old,” the statement said. “Secretary Chao’s experience transitioning to a new country has motivated her to devote most of her professional life to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to build better lives.”

Chao, who was born in Taiwan and is the wife of the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, also served as deputy secretary of transportation and director of the Peace Corps in the administration of George HW Bush.

She met with the president-elect on 21 November at Trump Tower. According to a readout provided by the transition team, the two “conversed about labor and transportation issues with a particular focus on America’s long-term infrastructure needs, and reducing or eliminating burdensome regulations”.

Trump has long pushed for an increase in infrastructure spending and has pledged to push for a trillion-dollar increase over the next decade in office. The president-elect’s plan relies heavily on public-private partnerships and tax credits rather than direct investment by the federal government.

If confirmed, Chao will become the second person to be labor secretary, transportation secretary and the spouse of the Senate majority leader, following in the footsteps of Elizabeth Dole.