Elaine Chao facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elaine Chao
Official portrait, 2019
18th United States Secretary of Transportation
In office January 31, 2017 – January 11, 2021
President	Donald Trump
Deputy	Jeffrey A. Rosen Steven G. Bradbury (acting)
Preceded by	Anthony Foxx
Succeeded by	Pete Buttigieg
24th United States Secretary of Labor
In office January 29, 2001 – January 20, 2009
President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Alexis Herman
Succeeded by	Hilda Solis
12th Director of the Peace Corps
In office October 8, 1991 – November 13, 1992
President	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Paul Coverdell
Succeeded by	Carol Bellamy
4th United States Deputy Secretary of Transportation
In office April 19, 1989 – October 18, 1991
President	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Mimi Weyforth Dawson
Succeeded by	James B. Busey IV
Chair of the Federal Maritime Commission
In office April 29, 1988 – April 19, 1989
President	Ronald Reagan George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Edward Hickey
Succeeded by	James J. Carey
Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission
In office April 29, 1988 – April 19, 1989
President	Ronald Reagan George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Edward Hickey
Succeeded by	Ming Hsu
Personal details
Born	Elaine Lan Chao (1953-03-26) March 26, 1953 (age 72) Taipei, Taiwan
Citizenship	Taiwan (until 1971) United States (1972–present)
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Mitch McConnell ​ (m. 1993)​
Relations	Angela Chao (sister)
Parents	James S. C. Chao Ruth Mulan Chu
Education	Mount Holyoke College (BA) Dartmouth College Harvard University (MBA)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	趙小蘭
Simplified Chinese	赵小兰
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhào Xiǎolán Wade–Giles Chao4 Hsiao3-lan2 Yale Romanization Chau Syaulan IPA [ʈʂâu̯ ɕi̯àu̯.lǎn] Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Ziu6 Siu2 Laan4

Elaine Lan Chao (born March 26, 1953) is an American businesswoman and former government official. She served as the United States secretary of labor from 2001 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. Later, she was the United States secretary of transportation from 2017 to 2021 for President Donald Trump.

As a member of the Republican Party, Chao made history. She was the first Asian American woman to be part of a presidential cabinet. A cabinet is a group of top advisors to the President. She resigned as transportation secretary after the events at the January 6 United States Capitol attack.

Chao was born in Taipei, Taiwan. Her parents moved from China because of the Chinese Civil War. She came to the United States when she was eight years old. Her father started a shipping company called the Foremost Group. Chao grew up in Queens, New York, and on Long Island. She earned degrees from Mount Holyoke College and Harvard Business School. Before her government roles, she worked in finance.

Early Life and Education

Chao in Syosset High School's yearbook

Elaine Chao was born in Taipei, Taiwan, on March 26, 1953. She moved to the United States when she was eight years old. She is the oldest of six daughters. Her mother, Ruth Mulan Chu Chao, was a historian. Her father, James S. C. Chao, was a businessman who started the Foremost Maritime Corporation in New York City in 1964. This company grew into the Foremost Group.

In 1961, when she was 8, Chao traveled to the U.S. on a freight ship with her mother and two younger sisters. Her father had arrived three years earlier. He sent money home until his family could join him.

Chao has said her early life in America was a typical immigrant story. She noted that "everything was foreign to us: the culture, people, language, traditions, and even the food." She did not speak English when she arrived. Her father worked three jobs to support the family. The five family members lived in a one-bedroom apartment.

Chao attended Tsai Hsing Elementary School in Taiwan for kindergarten and first grade. She went to Syosset High School in Syosset, New York. She became a U.S. citizen when she was 19.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Mount Holyoke College. She also studied at Dartmouth College. She later received an MBA degree from Harvard Business School.

Career Highlights

Early Public Service

Before working for the government, Chao was a vice president at Bank of America. She also worked as an international banker at Citicorp in New York. She was chosen for a White House Fellowship during the Reagan Administration.

Chao in 2005

In 1986, Chao became Deputy Administrator of the United States Maritime Administration. From 1988 to 1989, she led the Federal Maritime Commission. In 1989, President George H.W. Bush nominated her to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation. She held this role from 1989 to 1991.

From 1991 to 1992, she was the director of the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps is a program where Americans volunteer to help people in other countries. She was the first Asian American to hold any of these positions. She helped the Peace Corps expand into Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Between Government Roles

After serving in President George H.W. Bush's administration, Chao worked as president and CEO of United Way of America from 1992 to 1996. This organization helps communities across the U.S. She was the first Asian American to lead United Way. She helped the organization regain trust after a financial problem.

From 1996 until 2001, Chao worked at a think tank in Washington, D.C.. A think tank is a group that researches and advises on public policy. She also served on the board of the Independent Women's Forum.

U.S. Secretary of Labor (2001–2009)

Official Secretary of Labor photo

Chao was the only cabinet member to serve for all eight years of the George W. Bush administration. She was also the longest-serving Secretary of Labor since Frances Perkins in the 1930s and 1940s. The Senate approved her appointment as Secretary of Labor without any opposing votes.

As Secretary of Labor, she was in charge of policies related to workers, jobs, and workplace safety.

Worker Protections

In 2002, a major dispute at West Coast ports was resolved. The Bush administration used a special law to stop the dispute, which was costing the U.S. economy a lot of money. In 2003, her department updated rules for labor unions. These new rules required unions to share more financial information. This helped prevent misuse of funds.

Responding to Disasters

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Chao's department provided money for temporary jobs. These jobs helped with cleanup and rebuilding efforts in New York. They also made sure cleanup workers were safe. The department helped people who lost their jobs get unemployment benefits.

After the 2005 hurricane season, which included Hurricane Katrina, the Labor Department gave out nearly $380 million. This money helped with cleanup and supported people affected by the storms. Her department also sent staff to the region to teach about safety and protect workers' rights.

Workplace Safety and Oversight

During her time, the Department of Labor saw very low rates of worker injuries, illnesses, and deaths. They also recovered record amounts of unpaid wages for workers.

A 2007 report found that mine safety regulators missed some required inspections at coal mines. This was during a time when the number of worker deaths in mining accidents increased. Mining disasters in 2006 and 2007 included the Sago Mine disaster and the Crandall Canyon Mine collapse. After the Sago mine disaster, Secretary Chao promised to take steps to prevent future accidents.

Post-Bush Administration (2009–2017)

After leaving government in 2009, Chao returned to working at a think tank. She also appeared on Fox News and other media outlets.

She served on the boards of several companies and non-profit groups. These included Wells Fargo, New York–Presbyterian Hospital, and News Corp. In 2011, she received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service.

In 2015, she left the board of Bloomberg Philanthropies. This was because of their plans to increase support for an environmental initiative called "Beyond Coal".

U.S. Secretary of Transportation (2017–2021)

Chao at her confirmation hearing to be Secretary of Transportation

On November 29, 2016, President-elect Donald Trump announced he would nominate Chao to be Secretary of Transportation. The U.S. Senate approved her on January 31, 2017, by a vote of 93–6. Her husband, Mitch McConnell, who was the Senate majority leader, did not vote.

As Secretary of Transportation, Chao was in charge of things like roads, bridges, airports, and railways. She led U.S. delegations to important events in other countries, like the enthronement of the Japanese emperor.

Resignation in 2021

On January 7, 2021, the day after the January 6 United States Capitol attack, Chao resigned. Her resignation was effective January 11, 2021. She was the highest-ranking official in the administration to resign because of the events. She stated that the violence was "traumatic and entirely avoidable" and "deeply troubled" her.

New Technologies in Transportation

In 2017, Chao announced a program to test how drones could be used in the airspace. In 2019, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allowed UPS Flight Forward to use drones for deliveries to a hospital. In December 2019, the FAA suggested new rules requiring drones to be easily identified from a distance.

The Department of Transportation also updated guidelines for self-driving cars and trucks. They worked to make it easier and safer for private companies to launch rockets into space.

COVID-19 Response

In May 2020, during the COVID-19 outbreak, Chao told airlines to follow their rules for ticket refunds. She insisted that airlines provide cash refunds when required by law. She also encouraged them to offer cash refunds as much as possible.

Chao announced that $1.2 billion in grants would go to airports. This money helped airports stay ready for when people started traveling more. The funds were used for improvements like runway lighting.

Her department also worked to help truckers deliver essential goods. They made sure truckers could access highway rest areas and get hot food. The CARES Act provided $114 billion in federal aid for the transportation sector. This included money for public transit, airports, and Amtrak.

Other Initiatives

In March 2019, Chao created the Non-Traditional and Emerging Transportation Technology (NETT) Council. This group helps the Department of Transportation understand new transportation technologies. In October 2019, Chao started the ROUTES initiative. This program aims to improve transportation in rural areas. It helps rural communities get resources and technical support for their transportation needs.

Controversies

Some critics have raised concerns about her family's shipping company, Foremost Group, and its business ties. From January 2018 to April 2019, a large portion of the cargo shipped by Foremost went to and from China.

As Secretary of Transportation, Chao appeared in interviews with her father, James. Some media outlets questioned these appearances, as public officials are not supposed to use their position to benefit their families. The Transportation Department's inspector general looked into instances where Chao's office seemed to promote her family's business. However, the Justice Department decided not to open a criminal investigation.

In 2019, it was reported that Chao had not sold certain stock she owned from a company called Vulcan Materials by a promised date. She later sold the stock. An Inspector General report found no evidence of a financial conflict of interest.

In June 2019, it was reported that Chao had a special helper for transportation projects in Kentucky. This was the only state to have such a helper. This person worked as a link between the department and Kentucky officials, including Chao's husband, Senator Mitch McConnell. This led to grants for projects in Kentucky. However, the Inspector General found no problems with these grants.

In March 2021, the Inspector General released a report about some ethics concerns. These included using department resources for personal tasks and promoting her father's book. The report stated that the investigation was referred to the Justice Department, but they chose not to open a criminal case.

After the Trump Administration

Chao speaking at an event in June 2022

In August 2021, Chao was elected to the board of directors for the Kroger supermarket chain. She also joined the Board of Trustees for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2021.

Awards and Recognition

Chao has received many honorary doctorates, which are special degrees given to honor achievements. In 2006, she was named one of the "Great Immigrants" by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Personal Life

Chao and her husband, Mitch McConnell

In 1993, Elaine Chao married Mitch McConnell, who is a U.S. Senator from Kentucky.

The University of Louisville has the "McConnell-Chao Archives." This collection of documents and materials opened in 2009.

Family

Elaine Chao and her father James S. C. Chao met Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei, Taiwan, in 2016.

Chao has five younger sisters. Her sister Angela, who was the CEO of the Foremost Group, passed away in February 2024.

In 2012, the Chao family donated $40 million to Harvard Business School. This money was for scholarships for students of Chinese heritage. It also helped build the Ruth Mulan Chu Chao Center, named after Chao's late mother. This was the first Harvard Business School building named after a woman and the first named after an American of Asian ancestry.

Elaine Chao and her family are Christians.

See also

In Spanish: Elaine Chao para niños

• Taiwanese Americans in New York City
• Chinese Americans in New York City
• List of female United States Cabinet members
• List of United States Cabinet members who have served more than eight years
• List of foreign-born United States Cabinet members
• List of people who have held multiple United States Cabinet-level positions