Senate Panel Approves FHWA Administrator Nominee McMaster
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A Senate committee on June 11 approved the nomination of Sean McMaster to become administrator of the Federal Highway Administration.
His nomination advanced to the floor by a vote of 12-7. Republican Senate leaders are expected to schedule a vote on his confirmation before the August recess.
Leading up to the Environment and Public Works Committee vote, Chairwoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) endorsed McMaster’s credentials, arguing he is qualified to oversee the nation’s freight and commuter corridors. “McMaster’s relevant professional background, both in the public and private sectors, make him — I believe — especially well suited to be the administrator,” she said.
At his confirmation hearing last month, McMaster told senators he would prioritize proposals designed to streamline the permitting process for major infrastructure projects. That viewpoint has been repeatedly expressed by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
“We must further streamline project delivery, including the permitting process,” he said May 14, adding: “If confirmed, I look forward to working with the secretary and Congress on ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs so more of the funds being invested in our infrastructure will go to building the infrastructure. I know from experience that this is achievable.”
Like Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, FHWA nominee Sean McMaster has indicated he would prioritize proposals designed to streamline the permitting process for major infrastructure projects. (Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg News)
Improving the nation’s safety and efficiency along surface transportation corridors also is a priority for the Duffy-led DOT. “While we have made progress advancing these priorities, the current state of our critical infrastructure must be further improved. If I am confirmed, I will work tirelessly to support the secretary’s efforts to manage this challenge. This work, and all work under my leadership, if confirmed, will be guided by my top priority — and the top priority of the department — safety,” the nominee told senators last month.
The docket at the FHWA includes managing the allocation of nearly half of the funds approved in 2021’s $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Biden-era bipartisan infrastructure law is paving the way for projects specific to autonomous vehicles, severe weather resilience and supply chain connectivity.
Committee ranking member Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) is critical of the Trump administration’s management of infrastructure programs associated with the federal response to climate change. As he put it, “This administration has repeatedly unlawfully disrespected congressionally authorized and appropriated spending.”
Graves and Rouzer
McMaster, a longtime DOT official and congressional aide, has gained the endorsement of House transportation leaders. “Sean has a strong understanding of the legislative process, and we are confident that under his leadership at FHWA, Sean will be indispensable as Congress works with the administration to pass a multiyear surface transportation reauthorization bill to improve our roads and bridges, move people and goods safely and efficiently, and get America building again. We hope the Senate continues its historic pace of confirming President Trump’s nominees and quickly confirms Sean along with the rest of Secretary Duffy’s leadership team at the department,” Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-N.C.) said jointly last month.
In addition to McMaster, Duffy’s senior agency administrators also await votes in the Senate. They include David Fink to lead the Federal Railroad Administration and Marc Molinaro for the top post at the Federal Transit Administration.
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