What is the Department of Transportation?

The Department of Transportation is the federal department responsible for the nation's transportation systems, including highways, railroads, aviation, maritime shipping, public transit, and pipeline safety. Created by President Lyndon B. Johnson and Congress in 1966 to consolidate transportation functions that had been scattered across multiple agencies, the department began operations in 1967. Alan S. Boyd served as the first Secretary of Transportation. The department's headquarters is in southeast Washington, D.C., near the Anacostia River. The Department of Transportation has about 55,000 employees spread across multiple operating administrations.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates civil aviation, manages U.S. airspace, certifies aircraft and pilots, and operates air traffic control for one of the busiest aviation systems in the world. The Federal Highway Administration supports the construction and maintenance of the nation's roads, including the 47,000 mile Interstate Highway System originally authorized in 1956. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates trucks and buses to improve highway safety. The Federal Railroad Administration regulates freight and passenger railroads, including Amtrak. The Federal Transit Administration provides funding for buses, subways, light rail, and other public transit.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration regulates the shipment of hazardous materials and the operation of more than 2.6 million miles of pipelines. The Maritime Administration supports U.S. maritime industries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sets vehicle safety standards, conducts crash testing, and runs recall programs. The St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation operates the U.S. portion of the seaway connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

The Secretary of Transportation advises the President on transportation policy and oversees federal infrastructure investment. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 provided more than 1 trillion dollars for transportation, broadband, and other infrastructure, much of it administered by the Department of Transportation. Recent Secretaries include Elaine Chao, Pete Buttigieg, and Sean Duffy.