Early career During the
Obama administration, Trottenberg was the
Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy, helping develop the
Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant program. Trottenberg also served as a transportation policy adviser for Senators
Chuck Schumer,
Barbara Boxer, and
Daniel Patrick Moynihan, in addition to holding positions with the
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the nonprofit Building America's Future.
NYC DOT Polly Trottenberg was appointed by New York City Mayor
Bill de Blasio on December 31, 2013, to replace
Janette Sadik-Khan as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation. Trottenberg was sworn in on January 27, 2014. Trottenberg was also a board member of the
Metropolitan Transportation Authority, having been confirmed for a 10-year term on June 23, 2014. she resigned from the position on June 3, 2019. Trottenberg also served as the chair of TRANSCOM, a coalition of 16 transportation-related agencies in the
New York metropolitan area, from 2015 to 2019.
Deputy Secretary of Transportation In November 2020, Trottenberg was named a volunteer member of the
Joe Biden presidential transition Agency Review Team to support transition efforts related to the
United States Department of Transportation. On January 18, 2021, it was announced that Trottenberg would serve as
United States Deputy Secretary of Transportation in the incoming
Biden administration. On February 13, 2021, her nomination was formally submitted to the Senate for confirmation. On April 13, 2021, Trottenberg was confirmed in an 82–15 vote. She was sworn into office on April 14, 2021. Trottenberg was named acting administrator of the
Federal Aviation Administration by President Biden on June 8, 2023.
New York University On July 10, 2025, New York University (NYU) announced that Trottenberg would become dean of NYU’s
Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and a Global Distinguished Professor at NYU, assuming these duties on August 1, 2025. == Personal life ==