The Department of Transportation regulates the safety of aviation, highways, trucking, rail, transit, and pipelines, and distributes large infrastructure grants to states and localities. Much of its money flows through dedicated trust funds rather than annual appropriations, especially the Highway Trust Fund financed by fuel taxes.
Open the interactive page for DOT →Created byDepartment of Transportation Act, Pub. L. 89-670, Oct. 15, 1966 (80 Stat. 931); operations began Apr. 1, 1967
Head appointed49 U.S.C. § 102(b): the Secretary is appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. No fixed term (PAS)
Removal standardno statutory removal protection — removable at will
Funded underTransportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, plus the Highway and Airport and Airway Trust Funds
Congressional oversightHouse Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure · Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Inspector generalDOT OIG (PAS Inspector General under the IG Act, 5 U.S.C. § 403(a))
Judicial reviewAPA § 702 suits; safety rules and orders reviewable in the courts of appeals (e.g., 49 U.S.C. § 30161 for NHTSA, 49 U.S.C. § 46110 for FAA)
Vote for President and Senate; file a vehicle-safety or defect complaint at nhtsa.gov — clusters can trigger recalls; report an aviation safety concern to the FAA; comment on proposed safety rules at regulations.gov.
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