Department of Transportation - Federal Departments

Year Founded: 1966

Employees: 53,037

Outlay: $73B / year

Employee Expense: $6.64B in 2022

The Federal Government is broken down into fifteen departments, each of which consists of a number of sub-departments and organizational groups tasked with accomplishing the Department's overall goals.

The Department of Transportation was established in 1967 in order to ensure reliable and safe transportation now and in the future. USDOT oversees regulations, research and development, distribution of grants, enactment of legislation, and other initiatives to ensure Americans have the best transportation and infrastructure possible.

Who does the Department of Transportation hire?

Positions in the Department of Defense are as broad as any organization in the federal government. DOT employs scientist, engineers, statisticians, and computer experts as well as legal and administrative professionals. The DOT contracts much of its more physically demanding work but also employees thousands of hard working men and woman in the construction, manufacturing, and trade positions.

In 2022, the most common occupation employed by the Department of Transportation was Air Traffic Control at 17,782 employees. The second largest occupation was Transportation Specialist with 5,467 employees.

The USDOT is headquartered in Washington D.C. and has more offices scattered across the country than any other single federal department. Offices are centered in major cities and most focus on improving efficiency and safety of travel in and around their location by inspecting our nations key infrastructure, enforcing safety regulation and through research and development.

History of the Department of Transportation

Before the DOT became a Cabinet-level department the functions of the DOT was carried out by the Under Secretary of Commerce and Transportation. In the 1960's, the explosion of highways and affordable long distance commercial flights increased the need for a full-fledged Department of Transportation. In 1965, the Federal Aviation Administration made the case to President Lyndon Johnson that the Department of Transportation should be its own Cabinet-level department.

President Johnson agreed and on April 1, 1967 the Department of Transportation was established. Today the DoT plays a role in regulating all kinds of transportation matters regarding highways, aviation, railroads, public transit, pipelines, seaways, and the transportation of hazardous material.

Average Pay of an Employee in the Department of Transportation

Agencies in the Department of Transportation (2022)