washington president-elect donald trump plan nominate former labor secretary elaine chao head transportation department source knowledge decision say tuesday source request anonymity confirm pick reuters chao wife republican senate majority leader mitch mcconnell serve labor secretary president george w. bush first asian-american woman hold cabinet position formal announcement expect tuesday afternoon although trump speak campaign trail want drain swamp washington half trump nine key appointments far accomplish washington insiders chao chao face number big decisions agency regulate nation vehicles airplanes railroad pipelines port highways include proceed self-driving cars u.s. roads use small unman aerial vehicles drone people whether u.s. fuel efficiency standards revise dozens pending regulatory issue next administration face include railroad safety staff rule require event data recorders u.s. vehicles whether set rule airlines require give passengers disabilities seat extra leg room whether ban restrict phone call make personal phone u.s. flight may also take lead role trump plan rebuild u.s. infrastructure trump call trillion infrastructure spend 10 years rebuild airports bridge project unclear much fund would come federal budget mitch bainwol chief executive alliance automobile manufacturers trade group urge trump administration conduct sweep review auto regulations praise chao superb choice say next administration make important decisions self-driving cars maximize rate innovation technologies save live avoid crash improve fuel economy former u.s. house speaker newt gingrich praise chao expect nomination great secretary transportation really understand federal government-can lead rebuild infrastructure write twitter house democratic leader nancy pelosi say democrats want work chao fix infrastructure allow republicans use infrastructure bill trojan horse undermine workers wag hand massive tax break big corporations chao former deputy transportation secretary sit board well fargo co wfc.n ingersoll-rand co ircom.ul news corp nwsa.o vulcan materials co vmc.n chinese immigrant chao arrive unite state age 8. father jam s.c. chao founder foremost group international ship company trump nominate elaine chao transportation post source