Staffing the USDOT: Turnover, Teambuilding and Transportation Policy

Staffing the USDOT: Turnover, Teambuilding and Transportation Policy

From Thinking Transportation: Engaging Conversations about Transportation Innovations by Texas A&M Transportation Institute

January 8, 2026 · 44 min · Season 4 · Episode 9

About this episode

Nicole Nason discusses the challenges of transportation policy during leadership changes in federal agencies.

When a new U.S. presidential administration is inaugurated, federal agencies experience changes in leadership and staff. Nicole Nason served as administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) at the U.S. Department of Transportation during the first Trump Administration. She understands as well as anyone the challenges of pursuing policy priorities in transportation while navigating the often choppy waters of politics in Washington, D.C. Ms. Nason joins us today to discuss her pass...

People in this episode

Guest: Nicole Nason

Topics covered

  • transportation policy
  • federal agencies
  • politics
  • leadership changes
  • staff turnover

Keywords

  • USDOT
  • transportation
  • policy
  • staffing
  • administration
  • politics
  • FHWA

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation

Places: Washington, D.C.

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