DOT CFO nominee vows to track IIJA obligations, bring private‑sector rigor to air traffic modernization

Edward Eppler, nominated to serve as Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Department of Transportation, told senators he would prioritize identifying unobligated Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds at risk of lapsing and provide transparency to the committee on grant status.

‘‘I will...commit to working with you and your office to see what the status is of each of those and to transparency in the process,” Eppler said when asked about the department’s backlog of grant obligations. Senators cited a Government Accountability Office finding that DOT had obligated about 59% of available IIJA funds and pressed Eppler to monitor deadlines so awards do not lapse.

Eppler emphasized that managing large modernization efforts requires clear performance indicators, timelines, budgets and close tracking. Drawing on private‑sector experience in aerospace finance and at a high‑growth advanced air mobility company, he said he would apply ‘‘financial rigor’’ and hold program leads accountable for schedules and outcomes. He also highlighted the need to design systems that can accommodate technological change as the airspace evolves.

Why it matters: The DOT CFO oversees stewardship of federal transportation funding. Timely obligation of IIJA funds affects infrastructure projects and local governments that depend on grant awards to complete projects within statutory windows.

What remained unresolved: Eppler committed to deepening the department’s accounting of unobligated grants and providing transparency to this committee but detailed timelines and formats for that reporting will be determined through follow‑up engagement with committee staff.

Next steps: Senators will submit questions for the record by the committee’s deadline; Eppler pledged to respond and to work with the committee on grant status and modernization oversight.