Government
Trump Picks Ex-House Member to Head Federal Transit Administration
Former New York Republican Congressman Marc Molinaro, seen here addressing the Transportation Trades Dept., AFL-CIO, back in November, has already secured a key endorsement from the House Transportation committee chairman.
Photo courtesy the Office of Rep. Marc Molinaro
As President Trump sees more of his Cabinet nominees confirmed by the Senate, the White House is announcing the selections for more of sub-Cabinet slots, too.
Among those newly selected for key federal infrastructure positions is former one-term House member and long-time New York State legislator and county official, Marcus Molinaro, whom Trump has picked to lead the Federal Transit Administration.
Molinaro’s name was sent to the Senate on Feb. 3. He served in the House from 2023-2024 but was defeated for reelection last November.
In his stint in the House, Molinaro served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I). That panel has jurisdiction over policy issues for transit and a wide range of other transportation modes.
T&I Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) said in a social media post that he supports Molinaro’s nomination for the top FTA post.
Graves said that while Molinaro was in the House, he was “a valued (and) active T&I member, successfully moving bills through committee (and) the House." This includes a Molinaro-backed measure enacted in the last Congress that aims to improve Amtrak station compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, Graves added. He also said that Molinaro will be “a valuable addition” to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy's team at the U.S. Dept. of Transportation.
Molinaro’s selection also won support from the American Public Transit Transportation Association. In a statement, APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas cited Molinaro’s experience on the House T&I panel and his familiarity with transit as the county executive in Dutchess County.
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Skoutelas also noted that a major upcoming surface transportation event development is the reauthorization of federal highway and transit programs, which are due to expire Sept. 30, 2026.
The reauthorization has long been on the legislative and industry agenda and debate will only intensify in the weeks and months to come. Skoutelas said in the next reauthorization APTA would be aiming to "secure robust federal investments" in infrastructure.
The Transport Workers Union issued a statement backing Molinaro. TWU International President John Samuelsen said that while in the House, Molinaro "was a strong advocate for public transit in downstate New York."
Molinaro has been a strong critic of the congestion pricing plan recently implemented in New York City this past month, according to media reports. The program sets tolls on vehicles entering lower Manhattan and will use the funds to back bonds to finance MTA capital projects.
