President-elect Donald Trump has chosen former labor secretary Elaine Chao to serve as his secretary of Transportation, selecting the wife of the most powerful person in the Senate to shepherd a $1 trillion infrastructure package.

Chao served in President George W. Bush's cabinet, and will help steer an infrastructure bill through Congress, in addition to overseeing 11 agencies at the Transportation Department if confirmed by the Senate.

She is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, whose powerful post allowed him to determine the floor schedule for legislation and the incoming president's nominees – including the senator's wife.

The Taiwan-born Chao was the first Asian American cabinet member when she ran the Labor department. Sources confirmed her selection to Politico and multiple outlest.

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Trump has selected former Labor secretary Elaine Chao as his nominee to run the Transportation Department

Earlier, Trump's transition announced the nomination of House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price to serve as secretary of the Health and Human Services Department.

A formal announcement is expected this afternoon. She ran the Labor Department throughout Bush's two terms, from 2001 to 2009. She married McConnell in 1993.

She also served as deputy secretary of transportation under George H.W. Bush.

McConnell said Tuesday his wife was an 'outstanding choice' for the job.

Chao walks with husband Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky before President Obama's State of the Union Address in January

Trump is counting on McConnell to get his agenda and nominees through the Senate

Trump has listed the infrastructure bill, touted as a $1 trillion infusion to fix ailing infrastructure, as one of his top few legislative priorities for the start of his term.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California spoke about the nomination on ABC, congratulating Chao and Price before the official announcement. 'Wait, that has been announced, right?' he asked, as word was still spreading of the expected nomination. 'Did I just make news?'

As Senate leader, McConnell has vast influence over Trump's legislative agenda and presidential appointments. He will be tasked with negotiating with Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer over the transportation measure, Supreme Court nominees.

As the senator entitled to gain priority recognition on the floor, he can call up legislation and nominees, and help overcome obstacles to passage. He also can use parliamentary tactics to block amendments to legislation.

Chao's views may be odds with Trump's on one key issue: Trade. In an op-ed posted by the Heritage Foundation in 2009, she called for 'exposing the folly, and false patriotism, of trade protectionism.'

She referred to a 'buy America' provision included in President Obama's economic stimulus package as the 'Dig a moat around America.'

The also called out a 'protectionist provision' dealing with Mexican trucks that drive across the border, referencing the 'blunderbuss exercise.'