WASHINGTON D.C. – Elaine Chao, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, announced on Jan. 7 that she is resigning from being head of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Chao’s resignation will be effective Monday, Jan. 11.
Secretary Chao cited the incident at the U.S. Capitol that took place the day before to be the reason for her resignation. On Jan. 6, pro-Trump protestors stormed and occupied the Capitol building. The aftermath is 4 dead and many injured.
In a Twitter statement, Chao gave the following statement, “Yesterday, our country experienced a traumatic and entirely avoidable event as supporters of the president stormed the Capitol building following a rally he addressed. As I’m sure is the case with many of you, it has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside.”
The statement continues, “I am tremendously proud of the many accomplishments we were able to achieve together for our country and I will never forget the commitment you have for this Department and the United States of America. I am hopeful that many of you will carry forward our vision to improve the lives of Americans through this Department and beyond.”
“Today, I am announcing my resignation as U. S. Secretary of Transportation, to take effect on Monday, January 11, 2020. We will help my announced successor Mayor Pete Buttigieg, with taking on the responsibility of running this wonderful department.” was in the final words of the statement.
Currently, Chao is the highest-ranked Trump administration member to resign after the incident at the Capitol.
Chao has been one of the few who served the entire four years of the Trump administration. Secretary of Transportation is the second post as a member of a presidential Cabinet for Chao. She was Secretary of Labor during George Bush’s administration from 2001 to January 2009 and is the first Asian-American woman to be appointed to the President’s cabinet.
