Office of the Secretary


Overview: The Office of the Secretary provides policy development, oversight and coordination for the overall planning and direction of the Department. The total request in FY 2004 of $210 million is $39 million, or 23 percent, more than FY 2003.

Office of the Secretary Budget
(Dollars In Millions)
  2002 1/ Actual 2003 2/ 3/ Request
2004 3/4/ Request
Salaries and Expenses 67 92 109
Planning, R & D 15 11 11
Civil Rights and MBRC 13 13 12
New HQs Building 0 25 45
Essential Air Service 63 30 33
TOTAL 157 171 210
1/ An additional $50 million for the Essential Air Service program was financed from balances in the FAA Facilities & Equipment account.
2/ An additional $83 million for the Essential Air Service program is to be financed from FAA Airport Grants.
3/ Excludes estimated accrual payments for civil service retirement and health benefits.
4/ An additional $17 million for the Essential Air Service program is to be financed from prior year fees.


Secretary Mineta in a meeting

FY 2004 Budget


Salaries and Expenses: $108.9 million is requested for FY 2004, including almost $25 million to strengthen the management of the Department's large information technology investment portfolio, increase security of its information and technical infrastructure against cyberthreats, and improve the American public's access to information and services through electronic government. For comparability purposes, the President's FY 2004 budget submission includes $20 million in FY 2002 and $20 million in FY 2003 under the Department of Homeland Security to reflect the shift of OST personnel and administrative resources to the new Department.

Planning, Research, and Development: $10.8 million is requested for 2004, including $4 million for a comprehensive analysis of aviation practices, mergers, and international alliances to support the formulation of national transportation policies.

Office of Civil Rights: The FY 2004 budget request includes $8.6 million to support internal and external civil rights and equal opportunity matters; enforce Federal civil rights statutes; investigate EEO complaints; support the Disability Resource Center; support the Shared Neutrals Alternative Dispute Resolution Program; and oversee and coordinate equity programs throughout the Department.

Minority Business Resource Center (MBRC): $3.9 million is requested for MBRC activities. $0.9 million in Federal subsidy and administrative expenses will support an $18 million short-term loan guarantee program to assist small, disadvantaged and women-owned transportation-related businesses; and $3 million will fund the MBRC Outreach program, which includes a clearinghouse for national dissemination of information on transportation-related projects and grants to minority educational institutions.

Essential Air Service: $50 million is requested for FY 2004, and is to be fully financed through aviation overflight fees. The budget proposes significant changes to the program to target subsidies where they are most needed, require local support through matching funds, and broaden the program to provide transportation alternatives where alternate airports are within reasonable driving ranges.

New Headquarters Building: $45 million is requested to finance the FY 2004 costs for the new Department of Transportation headquarters building. The goal is to consolidate the Department's headquarters operating functions into efficient leased buildings in the District of Columbia.