Chao resigns after 'traumatic' Capitol events

Transportation secretary says 'entirely avoidable' building invasion 'deeply troubled' her
By Adam Hill January 8, 2021 Read time: 1 min
Chao: Capitol storming 'deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside'

US transportation secretary Elaine Chao has announced her resignation, to take effect on Monday.

She criticised president Donald Trump's role in the events this week which saw his supporters storm the Capitol building in Washington, DC. 

One protester was shot dead, three others died during the violence and a Capitol policeman has subsequently died of his injuries.

Chao was due to have been replaced on 20 January anyway by president-elect Joe Biden's pick for the role, Pete Buttigieg.

But in a statement addressed to 'Department of Transportation colleagues' yesterday, she said 

"Our country experienced a traumatic and entirely avoidable event as supporters of the President stormed the Capitol building following a rally he addressed."

"As I'm sure is the case with many of you, it has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside."

Chao continued that she was "tremendously proud of the many accomplishments were were able to achieve together" and added that help will be extended to Buttigieg as he takes over "the responsibility of running this wonderful department".

Chao is married to the Senate majority leader, Republican Mitch McConnell,


 

Enforcement

Related Content

  • Trump unveils U.S. infrastructure investment
    February 13, 2018
    U.S. president Donald Trump has announced that he wants Congress to approve $200bn (£144bn) bill, which he said will stimulate another $1.3tn (£9bn) in improvements as part of his plan to fix the country’s infrastructure. One intention of the proposal is to eliminate regulatory barriers and offer more flexibility to transportation projects that are currently required to seek Federal review and approval. $100bn (£72bn) of the proposed bill will create an Incentives Program to spur additional dedicated fund
    Read More
  • Tolling Matters: "We want people to share their experiences and not be judged or silenced"
    May 7, 2024
    Wayne Reed of AtkinsRéalis explains why IBTTA's Open Space sessions have the potential to generate great ideas through meaningful discussion - and to have an impact way beyond a 'talking shop'
    Read More
  • IBTTA: industry must commit to trust and accountability
    August 23, 2018
    Without a commitment to trust and accountability, the modern road tolling industry would not have the bedrock which it requires – and which customers demand, says IBTTA’s Bill Cramer When Tim Stewart, executive director of Colorado’s E-470 Public Highway Authority, settled on ‘trust and accountability’ as the themes for his year as IBTTA president, it was a very deliberate choice. Stewart was looking for language that would help deliver the global tolling industry’s message of service excellence to cust
    Read More
  • Authorities look to MaaS for new solutions and cost savings
    July 18, 2017
    The structure of society and the way in which our cities work will be completely transformed by Mobility as a Service (MaaS), Finland’s minister of transport and communications Anne Berner, told ITS International’s recent MaaS Market conference 2017 in London. In her keynote address, Berner told a packed audience of more than 200 ITS professionals that MaaS has the potential to help governments around the world meet their big city targets such as the rate of employment, the environment, the efficient use of
    Read More

Highlighted Content