At a glance
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT or DOT) is responsible for ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible, and convenient transportation system that meets national interests.
The DOT is made up of 13 agencies with nearly 60,000 employees.
“By stopping unnecessary expenditures, more resources will be freed up for our true national priorities.” - Jeff Flake
A Path Forward
The Department of Transportation mainly oversees the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration. Once considered a crown jewel of the United States, the Interstate Highway System has fallen into disrepair due to reduced revenue and lack of prioritization. The FHA should limit the scope of its projects to just interstate transportation instead of funding projects like beautification or bike paths.
In addition, Congress and the current administration need to agree on a long-term plan for funding surface transportation. Continuing to supplement the Highway Trust Fund with general revenues is not sustainable, especially given the federal government’s fiscal challenges.
78.42 Billion Annual Budget
Elaine L. Chao Secretary
Budget Growth 2012 - 2016
Annual budget for the federal government
Percentage of Federal Budget
Oversight Reports
NextGen Developmental Projects In Air With No Direction
FISMA 2017: DOT’s Information Security Posture Is Still Not Effective
FHWA Lacks Detailed Guidance on Infrastructure Resilience for Emergency Relief Projects and a Process To Track Related Improvements
GAO: Tennessee Valley Authority: Actions Needed to Better Communicate Debt Reduction Plans and Address Billions in Unfunded Pension Liabilities
DOT OIG: DOT’s Conference Spending Policies Reflect Federal Requirements, but Ineffective Controls Do Not Ensure Compliance
DOT OIG: DOT’s Fiscal Year 2015 Improper Payment Reporting Does Not Comply With IPERA Requirements
GAO: Vehicle Cybersecurity: DOT and Industry Have Efforts Under Way, but DOT Needs to Define Its Role in Responding to a Real-world Attack
DOT OIG: The Department Does Not Fully Ensure Compliance With Contract Closeout Requirements
OIG: Surface Transportation: Department of Transportation Should Measure the Overall Performance and Outcomes of the TIGER Discretionary Grant Program
DOT OIG: OSDBU Lacks Effective Processes for Establishing, Overseeing, and Managing Its Small Business Transportation Resource Centers
DOT OIG: Improvements Needed In the Federal Transit Administration’s Grant Oversight Program
DOT OIG: FRA Improved Its Guidance on High Speed Rail Grant Agreements, but Policies and Procedures for Amending and Monitoring Grants Remain Incomplete
DOT OIG: FHWA Does Not Effectively Ensure States Account for Preliminary Engineering Costs and Reimburse Funds as Required
DOT OIG: FHWA Needs To Strengthen Its Oversight of State Transportation Improvement Programs
DOT OIG: Vulnerabilities Exist in Implementing Initiatives Under MAP-21 Subtitle C To Accelerate Project Delivery
DOT OIG: ADS-B Benefits Are Limited Due to a Lack of Advanced Capabilities and Delays in User Equipage
DOT OIG: There are Significant Differences Between FAA and Foreign Countries’ Processes for Operating Air Navigation Systems
DOT OIG: Enhanced FAA Oversight Could Reduce Hazards Associated With Increased Use of Flight Deck Automation
DOT OIG: FAA Lacks Effective Internal Controls for Oversight of Accountable Personal Property Federal Aviation Administration
DOT OIG: FAA Reforms Have Not Achieved Expected Cost, Efficiency, and Modernization Outcomes
DOT OIG: FAA Lacks Adequate Controls To Accurately Track and Award Its Sole-Source Contracts
DOT OIG: New Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Participation is Decreasing at the Nation’s Largest Airports, and Certification Barriers Exist
DOT OIG: Opportunities Exist for FAA To Strengthen Its Award and Oversight of eFAST Procurements
DOT OIG: Enhancements Are Needed to FAA’s Oversight of the Suspected Unapproved Parts Program
DOT OIG: Greater Adherence to ADS-B Contract Terms May Generate Better Performance and Cost Savings for FAA
DOT OIG: DOT and FAA Lack Adequate Controls Over Their Use and Management of Other Transaction Agreements
DOT OIG: Highway Infrastructure: Federal-State Partnership Produces Benefits and Poses Oversight Risks
DOT OIG: Highway Trust Fund Obligations, Fiscal Years 2009 to 2011
DOT OIG: Highway Trust Fund: DOT Has Opportunities to Improve Tracking and Reporting of Highway Spending
GAO: Highway Trust Fund: Administrative Expenses of the Federal Highway Administration
GAO: Highway Bridges: Major Projects Present Challenges for States, but Strategies Exist to Overcome Them
DOT OIG: Airport Privatization: Limited Interest despite FAA’s Pilot Program
Can you believe the US Government spends more money on it’s cable bill than on disaster relief?