Cabinet shuffle: LaHood to leave Department of Transportation

By NBC's Domenico Montanaro

Ray LaHood becomes the latest member of President Obama's cabinet to say they are leaving as the president begins his second term.
LaHood announced today he will leave his post as secretary of the Department of Transportation once a successor is confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
"As I look back on the past four years, I am proud of what we have accomplished together in so many important areas," LaHood said in a statement.
The former Illinois congressman was one of two Republicans President Obama appointed to cabinet secretary positions at the beginning of his first term. (Bob Gates at Defense was the other). Obama has nominated Chuck Hagel, a former Republican senator from Nebraska, to take over at Defense. He's expected to be confirmed.
LaHood's replacement was not immediately clear.
As he exits, LaHood touted accomplishments, including the stimulus, fuel-efficiency standards, high-speed rail, as well as initiatives on distracted driving, combatinng pilot fatigue, and highway safety.
Here's his full statement:

“I have let President Obama know that I will not serve a second term as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation.  It has been an honor and a privilege to lead the Department, and I am grateful to President Obama for giving me such an extraordinary opportunity.  I plan to stay on until my successor is confirmed to ensure a smooth transition for the Department and all the important work we still have to do.
As I look back on the past four years, I am proud of what we have accomplished together in so many important areas.  But what I am most proud of is the DOT team. You exemplify the best of public service, and I truly appreciate all that you have done to make America better, to make your communities better, and to make DOT better.
Our achievements are significant.  We have put safety front and center with the Distracted Driving Initiative and a rule to combat pilot fatigue that was decades in the making.  We have made great progress in improving the safety of our transit systems, pipelines, and highways, and in reducing roadway fatalities to historic lows.  We have strengthened consumer protections with new regulations on buses, trucks, and airlines.
We helped jumpstart the economy and put our fellow Americans back to work with $48 billion in transportation funding from the American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009, and awarded over $2.7 billion in TIGER grants to 130 transportation projects across the Nation.  We have made unprecedented investments in our nation’s ports.  And we have put aviation on a sounder footing with the FAA reauthorization, and secured funding in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act to help States build and repair their roads, bridges and transit systems.
And to further secure our future, we have taken transportation into the 21st century with CAFE Standards, NextGen, and our investments in passenger and High-Speed Rail.  What’s more, we have provided the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy with the funding and leadership it needs to prepare a new generation of midshipmen to meet our country’s rapidly-evolving defense and maritime transportation needs.
Closer to home, we also have made great strides.  In December, the DOT was recognized as the most improved agency in the entire Federal government in the 2012 “Best Places to Work” rankings published by the Partnership of Public Service.  Even more impressive, DOT was ranked 9th out of the 19 largest agencies in the government.
Each of these remarkable accomplishments is a tribute your hard work, creativity, commitment to excellence, and most of all, your dedication to our country.  DOT is fortunate to have such an extraordinary group of public servants.  I look forward to continuing to work with all of you as the selection and confirmation process of the next transportation secretary moves forward.  Now is not the time to let up - we still have a number of critical safety goals to accomplish and still more work to do on the implementation of MAP-21.
I’ve told President Obama, and I’ve told many of you, that this is the best job I’ve ever had.  I’m grateful to have the opportunity to work with all of you and I’m confident that DOT will continue to achieve great things in the future.
Thank you, and God bless you."

Discuss this post

Pat Boston MA.

H/T: The Obama Diary:
On Hillary Clinton leaving the State Department, this is quite a story:
Last week campaign disclosure reports revealed that Hillary Clinton had finally retired the debt from her 2008 presidential campaign—with a little help from the guy who beat her, Barack Obama. Clinton’s debt once totaled more than $20 million, although it had dwindled to about $250,000 by last year. That’s when a team of top Obama donors decided to surprise Clinton, and thank her for her loyal service, by raising enough money to pay off her bills. As secretary of state, she was forbidden from political fundraising.
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-28/obamas-parting-gift-to-hillary-clinton

Ray LaHood, thank you for your service to the people of America.

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#1 - Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:21 AM EST

Forrest Grump 2.0

Obama and Clinton set a good example as to how most people wish our elected government officials should operate, they were pretty nasty to each other during the campaign, but then set that aside after the elections and worked together for the common good of the nation.

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#1.1 - Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:26 AM EST

Pat Boston MA.

Forrest, as Hillary said on 60 Minutes - they're professionals.
No question that they set a good example.

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#1.2 - Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:29 AM EST

Ben-636050

Did you see the disclaimer immediately following the 60-Minutes segment? It said -- "This political ad has been paid for jointly by the Hillarious for President 2016 and the Stab Joe Biden in the Back campaigns." Kicking in was the ASAA -- the American Softball Association of America seen frequently on ESPN 8 - the Ocho.

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#1.3 - Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:43 AM EST

Allen - Omaha

"We helped jumpstart the economy and put our fellow Americans back to work with $48 billion in transportation funding from the American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009, and awarded over $2.7 billion in TIGER grants to 130 transportation projects across the Nation. We have made unprecedented investments in our nation’s ports. And we have put aviation on a sounder footing with the FAA reauthorization, and secured funding in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act to help States build and repair their roads, bridges and transit systems."
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Wow...look at that, a Republican touting investment (ie...Government spending) as a good thing. 40 lashes I say...and 3 cheers for building the danged wall...electrifying anything that touches it...guns for all...pro-life, except in cases where it's our mistress...build more tanks..screw the poor, the lazy b*stards and a hip hip hooray for the job creators!!!

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#1.4 - Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:45 AM EST