The United States Department of Transportation was established by an act of Congress, October 15, 1966. It began operations on April 1, 1967, and is led by a cabinet secretary, the Secretary of Transportation.
The department's mission is to "Serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future."[1]