Senate Approves Nominees Key to Trump’s Aviation, Maritime Plans

December 19, 2025, 1:32 AM UTC

The Senate approved four nominations for transportation policy officials that will increase President Donald Trump’s influence over the maritime, aviation, and railroad industries.

The nominees were confirmed by a vote of 53-43. The Senate voted on these picks and others in a bloc, on Thursday after Republicans changed the chamber’s rules to allow certain nominees to be confirmed in batches.

Stephen Carmel will lead the Maritime Administration at a time when the president is pursuing an expansion of domestic shipbuilding to make the country more competitive with China. The Department of Transportation agency oversees ports and other water infrastructure nationwide ...

Learn more about Bloomberg Government or Log In to keep reading:

See Breaking News in Context

Providing news, analysis, data and opportunity insights.

Already a subscriber?

Log in to keep reading or access research tools and resources.