Nothing much surprised Elaine Chao when she was named secretary of Labor by former President George W. Bush or secretary of Transportation during Donald Trump’s first term. That’s because she had served in other cabinet positions — and has been vetted five times by the FBI. So she knew the ropes.
Chao, whose husband is Sen. Mitch McConnell, isn’t working for Trump this time around, but she has thoughts on what his next administration should be paying attention to.
What advice do you have for the next Cabinet secretaries in your positions?
No. 1, personnel is policy. No. 2, communicate, communicate, communicate — within the department, as well as with the outside world. It’s important to communicate internally so that everybody in the department understands the priorities of the secretary. And No. 3, scheduling. It’s important, because how the secretary spends his or her time is an implicit signal to the organization and the outside stakeholders about your priorities.
What’s one thing you didn’t know that you wish you did before you got into the job?
Before I was secretary of Labor or secretary of Transportation, I was deputy secretary of Transportation. So, there’s not much that surprised me. I was pretty prepared. I do remember that as a deputy, I was drinking from a fire hydrant every single day. It was very, very stressful. By the time I became secretary, I was totally prepared. Experience helps. … I did learn about the breadth of the Labor Department and how its actions impact every single workplace in America.
What do you see as the biggest obstacle facing the next administration?
The Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act will expire in 2026 just before the midterm elections. It’s going to be a big issue, and they’ve got to be ready for it. … I also expect consumer acceptance of EVs to keep growing, so I question the effectiveness of relying only on the gasoline tax to fund the Highway Trust Fund that repairs and maintains our national highway system and also the transit system.
Where did you go to have a meltdown?
The days seem like a pressure cooker, but I would tell appointees that the days are long but the years are short. I’m from an immigrant family, and I was so grateful to be able to give back to this country, and if I had to work extra hard, that was my privilege.
Want more? Former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says career staffers keep the wheels turning.