Sean McMaster, President Donald Trump’s nominee as the Federal Highway Administration’s 22nd administrator, won the confirmation of the Senate in an en bloc vote of 51-47, according to a Sept. 18 press release.
McMaster will lead the FHWA in supporting state and local governments in designing, constructing and maintaining the country’s highway system, as well as various federally and tribally owned lands. Under his watch, he is also tasked with developing a bipartisan surface transportation reauthorization bill, as the current transportation authorization is set to expire Sept. 30, 2026. McMaster has already met with stakeholders to discuss the current program’s structure and share policy ideas, according to a LinkedIn post from the FHWA.
“I am honored to serve under President Trump and Secretary Duffy as we work to revitalize America’s roads and bridges,” McMaster said in the release. “I look forward to partnering with state and local leaders to accelerate project delivery and get shovels in the ground.”
His experience on the Hill includes time as staff with the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and most recently as the deputy chief of staff with the Department of Transportation.
He will replace Shailen Bhatt, former President Joe Biden’s pick as 21st administrator for FHWA. Bhatt left the DOT for the private sector in September 2024, joining engineering firm AtkinsRéalis.
Nominated in March, McMaster received support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at the time.
“Mr. McMaster’s experience in both the federal government and as an industry practitioner equips him with the skills and knowledge to help streamline and improve project delivery timelines,” Neil Bradley, an EVP at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said in a letter.
Recently, other industry groups have also supported McMaster’s nomination.
“Given his wealth of experience within the Department of Transportation, we believe he is a proven leader, well-suited to oversee our nation’s highway system,” Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, said in a statement. “We look forward to working with Administrator McMaster and Secretary Duffy to increase truck parking capacity and reduce road congestion in order to improve highway safety and supply chain efficiency.”
Back in May, the American Trucking Associations also voiced their support for Trump’s nomination.
“His prior experiences at the U.S. Department of Transportation, as well as his years working with the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and its leaders, will be of tremendous benefit to the agency. His input will be especially invaluable as we look toward the 2026 surface transportation reauthorization effort,” ATA president and CEO Chris Spear said in a letter.
