President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign has tapped two former Transportation Department officials to help the agency’s transition efforts as he prepares for his second term, POLITICO has learned.
That includes Skip Elliott, who worked under Trump’s DOT as administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and also as acting DOT inspector general, two former Trump administration officials and a transportation industry official with knowledge of the transition told POLITICO. They were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with the media.
Elliott also served as vice president for public safety, health and environment at freight rail giant CSX and before that at Conrail as the director of hazardous materials systems.
“Skip is an honorable and really good man. He still goes back and talks with PHMSA leadership,” one of the former Trump officials said.
Elliott could not be reached for comment.
Also helping the transition at DOT: Brigham McCown, according to the three officials familiar with the transition effort.
McCown served on Trump’s first transition team in 2016, before briefly becoming senior adviser to then-Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. McCown also served as one of the original leaders in PHMSA during the George W. Bush administration.
McCown did not respond to a request for comment.
