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WILMINGTON, Delaware: President-elect Joe Biden appointed Pete Buttigieg to head the U.S. Department of Transportation, according to four people familiar with the matter, making him the first of Biden’s Democratic rivals for the presidency in get a position in his cabinet.
The appointment of Buttigieg, 38, is another step in a meteoric political rise for the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who showed surprising strength as a presidential candidate. If confirmed by the United States Senate, it would run a sprawling federal agency that oversees the nation’s airlines, highways and transit systems.
Buttigieg would also make history as the first LGBTQ person nominated for the Biden administration and, if confirmed, the first Senate-approved LGBTQ cabinet secretary.
An announcement about his nomination is imminent, said people familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity before a formal announcement. A spokesperson for Biden’s transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A representative for Buttigieg also did not respond to a request for comment.
Buttigieg was rumored in several different locations in the Biden administration. He was surprisingly competitive during the Democratic Party primaries, winning the nation’s first caucuses in Iowa, displaying formidable fundraising power, and enjoying massive popularity on social media.
Once Biden took control of the race after winning the South Carolina primary in February, Buttigieg quickly withdrew and backed him, helping Biden solidify the support of the party’s moderate and established wing. He became a valuable Biden supporter on television in the final weeks of the election.
The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest advocacy group for the LGBTQ community, praised the nomination, saying Buttigieg “was open and honest” about his identity and gave the community a voice.
“Your voice as an advocate for the LGBTQ community in the cabinet room will help President-elect Biden rebuild our nation better, stronger and more equal than before,” said Alphonso David, president of the group, in a statement.
Despite being seen as a rising star within the party, various progressive groups and black leaders have opposed Buttigieg’s possible nomination to a cabinet position, criticizing his record on civil rights.
During the Democratic primary, Buttigieg faced attacks from African-American activists, who argued that he did not do enough as mayor to combat systemic racism in South Bend and help black residents share in the economic revitalization of the city. He was also criticized for the shooting death of a black man by a white police officer in South Bend, as well as questions about the diversity in the city’s police force.
Major transportation work offers you the opportunity to confront the nation’s history of plowing roads through underserved neighborhoods, and what advocates say are the long-lasting social, economic and environmental consequences of doing so.
At 78, Biden will be the oldest person to assume the presidency in American history, leading to speculation that he can only serve one term. While Kamala Harris, Biden’s vice president, could be the top contender to succeed him, Buttigieg’s transportation post will allow him to travel to communities across the country and remain in the public eye, something that could underpin a future presidential race.
EMPHASIS ON FIDELITY
Biden has seemed largely indifferent to liberal complaints about appointments to his administration, preferring to reward those who demonstrated loyalty to his campaign when he was struggling to generate support.
Buttigieg, a veteran of the US Navy who served as a reservist in Afghanistan, had also been considered head of the Department of Veterans Affairs. That space went to former Obama White House aide Denis McDonough.
Buttigieg’s nomination is in line with Biden’s stated commitment to diversity in the cabinet.
U.S. Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico has become Biden’s top pick to head the Department of the Interior, according to three sources familiar with the decision process, a pick that would make her the first Native American in the U.S. lead a cabinet agency.
At the Department of Transportation, Buttigieg may be tasked with overseeing much of Biden’s plan to dramatically increase spending on infrastructure, including building 550,000 electric vehicle charging stations and increasing spending on high-speed rail and other projects. green, and persuade Congress to find a way to pay. for new expenses.
Since 2008, Congress has transferred about $ 141 billion in general revenue to the Highway Trust Fund. To maintain existing spending levels, Congress will need to find $ 107 billion over five years, government auditors say.
Buttigieg would face challenges in aviation, including Congressional plans to review how the Federal Aviation Administration certifies new aircraft in the wake of two fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes that brought the plane to the ground for 20 months.
It would also have to decide how to monitor autonomous vehicles and driver assistance systems, such as Tesla’s autopilot, which have come under scrutiny after fatal accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an agency of the Department of Transportation, has not had an administrator confirmed by the Senate since January 2017.
