We’re chatting with former Cabinet members, chiefs of staff and government leaders from now to Jan. 20 to get a sense of what the incoming administration might face as it takes the reins.

Today we’re talking to Anthony Foxx, who served as Transportation secretary during the Obama administration and before that was mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. These days, he’s thinking about leadership in his role as co-director of Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership. He’s continued to advise Transportation folks and recently met with current Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

The following interview is edited for length and clarity.

What advice do you have for the next Cabinet secretary?

Get to know the place and especially the people. There is a lot of important institutional memory in the agency, especially in the realm of safety. You may not always agree with their recommendations, but the input always proved helpful.

What’s one thing you didn’t know that you wish you did before you got into the job?

The Office Information and Regulatory Affairs can refuse to accept well-constructed rules if they so choose, creating the perception that the Department of Transportation is not moving fast enough to adopt safety rules.

What do you see as the biggest obstacle facing the next department?

The perception that safety regulations stand in the way of innovation. In emergent transportation technologies, such as driverless cars and drones, the Department of Transportation has the opportunity to provide clarity and certainty, which can enable innovation to be integrated into the transportation system safely.

Where did you go to have a meltdown?

There is no place to hide. Just remember how much you and your own family depend on a safe, efficient transportation system and treat your task with the same level of care and concern each day.

Want more? Another former Transportation secretary, Ray LaHood, says he found serenity in Peoria.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, is on Capitol Hill Thursday to make his case with Senate Republicans as controversy continues to build around his nomination.

The Army veteran and Fox News host will need to address allegations of sexual assault that surfaced in recent days. Concern on Blue Light News is only likely to build after a police report into the 2017 allegations, which Hegseth denies and wasn’t charged in, became public on Wednesday.

Four Senate Republicans would need to break ranks to sink Hegseth’s nomination. And though none has opposed him so far, many Republicans have offered a tepid defense of Trump’s pick.

Here’s a look at Republicans to watch:

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.): The incoming chair of the Armed Services Committee will oversee Hegseth’s confirmation process. Wicker has said he wants to be “supportive” of Hegseth and posited that his outsider status could be advantageous in shaking up the Pentagon.

While he may well back Trump’s pick, Wicker will also need to gauge the support of his committee members and their concerns as the confirmation process unfolds.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa): A Senate Armed Services member whose name was briefly floated for the Pentagon job, Ernst could be somewhat of a bellwether for GOP support.

Ernst has been a vocal critic of the military’s handling of sexual assault in the ranks. She was the only Republican to vote against Gen. John Hyten’s nomination for Joint Chiefs vice chair, a confirmation process that was dominated by sexual assault allegations.

Ernst has said the allegations against Hegseth merit “discussion.” She also wants Hegseth to explain his comments that women should not serve in combat jobs.

“Any time there are allegations, you want to make sure they are properly vetted, so we’ll have that discussion,” Ernst said.

The stalwarts: Many of the junior Armed Services Republicans who are closely aligned with Trump have expressed support for Hegseth: Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.).

Non-Armed Services Republicans: While Thursday’s meetings likely will focus on shoring up immediate support among Armed Services members, some of the biggest wild cards could be in the wider Senate.

Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska most frequently bucked Trump in his first term and could be skeptical of Hegseth and other contentious picks. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), a conservative defense hawk who declined to support Trump in 2024, has praised Trump’s initial slate, and said he’d allow Hegseth’s confirmation process to play out.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the recent runner-up in the race to be the new GOP majority leader, could be an asset. Cornyn held a call with Hegseth — and on Wednesday touted him in a floor speech.

“I’ve known Pete a long time … I told him I want to be a resource for him,” Cornyn told reporters. “He came up here years ago, initially on some veterans affairs issues, and so trying to be of assistance,” Cornyn said, before downplaying the sexual assault allegation. “There’ll be plenty of time to hash that out. My understanding is it was a settlement of a dispute, and there’ll be plenty of time to flesh that out.”

House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) intends to establish a new subcommittee next year led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) that will oversee Delivering on Government Efficiency, a person familiar with the plans confirmed to Blue Light News.

The subcommittee will be tasked with coordinating with the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, an outside-of-government effort announced by Donald Trump which will be led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. The commission has been tasked with providing advice and coordinating with the White House and Office of Management and Budget.

“The Oversight committee has the broadest jurisdiction in the House and is the perfect place to support the DOGE mission. I’m excited to chair this new subcommittee designed to work hand in hand with President Trump, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, and the entire DOGE team,” Greene said in a statement.

“We will identify and investigate the waste, corruption, and absolutely useless parts of our federal government. Our subcommittee will provide transparency and truth to the American people through hearings. No topic will be off the table,” she added.

The person familiar with the plans added that lawmakers have already met with the incoming DOGE team, including Ramaswamy. The subcommittee, the person added, will be tasked with investigating wasteful spending, looking at how to reorganize federal agencies with an eye at improving efficiency, and identifying solutions to eliminate bureaucratic red tape.

House Democrats initially reacted to the news with disdain. “These distractions are not to the benefit of our constituencies or our culture. They’re hurtful, they’re harmful, and we’re prepared to do the real work,” Rep. Ann Kuster (D-N.H.) said.

Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) added: “Marjorie Taylor Greene chairing it tells you everything.”

Nicholas Wu contributed to this report.