"President Obama has chosen officials to fill the long-vacant roles leading federal agencies that oversee the safety of railroads and pipelines and of hazardous materials.

The top posts at both of the Department of Transportation (DOT) agencies have been vacant for months, even through high-profile disasters involving oil trains, Amtrak, oil pipelines, rapid transit and other forms of transportation.

It has led to repeated criticisms from members of Congress, who accused Obama of putting transportation safety on the back burner."

Timothy Cama reports for The Hill May 29, 2015. [2]