Elaine Chao

The Transportation Department's inspector general referred the findings to the Justice Department in December 2020. The DOJ declined to open its own investigation.

The Department of Transportation received some 25,000 consumer complaints in March and April, up from about 1,500 a month. DOT will also allow airlines to stop serving some cities with little demand.

The nomination of Stephen Dickson comes as the agency faces criticism for its response to crashes involving the Boeing 737 Max.

The united showing by the members of the president's Cabinet was met with skepticism from Democrats on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

Late last week, the Department of Transportation announced it would withdraw proposed measures that would require airlines to show the full cost of booking, including baggage, at ticket purchase.

Elaine Chao, wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, was President George W. Bush's labor secretary and served in top transportation jobs in the first Bush and Reagan administrations.

The former labor secretary worked in both Bush administrations; her resume runs counter to the anti-establishment message Donald Trump campaigned on.