Mayor Pete is my guy on transit, says Biden
Joe Biden announced late Tuesday that he’s nominating Pete Buttigieg to serve as his transportation secretary, making him the first 2020 rival to get a cabinet nod from the soon-tobe president.
Buttigieg (right in photo with Biden), who dropped out of the Democratic primary race in March and quickly endorsed Biden, would become the first openly gay cabinet official in U.S. history if confirmed by the Senate.
Biden said Buttigieg earned his chops by working on a number of transportation and infrastructure projects during his eight years as mayor of South Bend, Ind.
The president-elect, who has pledged to spend billions of dollars on overhauling the nation’s infrastructure and transit systems to help fight climate change, also said Buttigieg is a “problem solver” who will play a key role in carrying out his agenda.
“Jobs, infrastructure, equity and climate all come together at the DOT,” Biden said, using an acronym for the department. “I trust
Mayor Pete to lead this work with focus, decency and a bold vision — he will bring people together to get big things done.”
The 38-year-old former mayor echoed Biden’s focus on climate change.
“Innovation in transportation helped build my hometown, and it propels our country. Now is the time to build back better through modern and sustainable infrastructure that creates millions of good-paying union jobs, revitalizes communities, and empowers all Americans to thrive,” he tweeted. South Bend has a population of roughly 100,000, about half the number of riders who pass through the Times Square subway station on any given prepandemic weekday.
Buttigieg’s nomination came after the Daily News reported Sunday that Biden was also considering Interim NYC Transit President Sarah Feinberg and former city Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg for the job. At a virtual news conference Tuesday, Feinberg voiced support for Buttigieg. “I’m massively supportive of the president-elect. I’m sure he made a good decision here,” Feinberg said.