U.S. Department of Transportation

What U.S. Department of Transportation does

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT/USDOT) is a cabinet-level federal agency established by Congress on October 15, 1966, headquartered at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, D.C. It consolidates regulatory authority and federal funding responsibility for all U.S. transportation modes through 12 operating administrations, including the FAA (aviation), FHWA (highways), FMCSA (motor carriers), FRA (rail), FTA (transit), GLS (Great Lakes Seaway), MARAD (maritime), NHTSA (highway safety), PHMSA (pipelines and hazmat), the Office of Inspector General, the Office of the Secretary, and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The agency serves state and local governments, ports, airports, railroads, commercial carriers, and the traveling public through grant programs, safety regulation, consumer protection, and emergency response.

DOT's core operating portfolio consists of competitive grant programs (BUILD, Airport Improvement Program, Port Infrastructure Development, CRISI rail, Bridge Investment, Railroad Crossing Elimination), regulatory frameworks (Automated Vehicle Framework, supersonic flight certification, CDL standards), and large-scale modernization initiatives — most notably the $12.5 billion Brand-New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS/Modern Skies), the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program across 26 states, and the American Supply Chain Sovereignty Initiative. Under Secretary Sean P. Duffy (confirmed 2025), DOT has executed the largest civilian anti-drone operation in U.S. history during FIFA World Cup 2026, deployed AI-driven airspace management (SMART/FMDS) via an $875M contract with Air Space Intelligence, and initiated the Penn Station transformation with new master developer Penn Transformation Partners.

DOT does not sell products or services commercially. It is funded by congressional appropriations — approximately $45 billion annually in base grant spending, supplemented by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the One Big Beautiful Bill, and emergency supplemental funding. The FY2027 FHWA budget proposal of $66.2 billion indicates expanding fiscal scope. Revenue mechanics operate through legislative appropriations rather than market transactions, with services distributed through grants.gov, modal-administration channels, federal loan programs, and direct regulatory engagement with 10,000+ employees and 40,000+ FAA personnel.

Name

U.S. Department of Transportation

Legal name

United States Department of Transportation

Website

https://transportation.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The U.S. Department of Transportation is a cabinet-level federal agency that regulates and funds all U.S. transportation modes through 12 operating administrations. It distributes over $45 billion annually in grants to state and local governments, ports, airports, and railroads while modernizing air traffic control, highways, and supply chain infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Federal Transportation Administration

NAICS

Regulation and Administration of Transportation Programs (92612), Regulation and Administration of Transportation Programs (926120), Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Transportation Regulators (Aviation, Maritime, Rail, Road) (BPAIAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Transportation, Parking & Mobility Administration (BPAIACAM), Rail Infrastructure Authorities (Track, Stations, Grade Crossings) (BPAIALAG), Data, Monitoring & Analytics for CV Compliance (Sensors, Imaging, Dashboards, Reporting) (TLAJAKAJ)

Keywords

• Federal transportation regulation
• Transportation infrastructure grants
• Air traffic control services
• Motor vehicle safety standards
• Multimodal transportation policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Congressional Appropriations: DOT receives annual congressional appropriations totaling approximately $45 billion per year to fund transportation programs, infrastructure grants, and agency operations across all modal administrations
2. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Funding: Multi-year infrastructure funding from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law providing billions in highway, transit, rail, port, and aviation investments through 2026
3. Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Grants: $1.776 billion in FAA grants distributed to airports across 46 states for runway rehabilitations, safety improvements, and infrastructure upgrades
4. BUILD Grant Program: $1.73 billion in BUILD grants supporting 127 infrastructure projects across 52 states and territories for roadways, bridges, ports, transit, and rail improvements
5. Emergency Relief Funding: $1.9 billion in emergency relief through FHWA's Emergency Relief Program for natural disaster recovery including Hurricane Helene repairs
6. Advanced Air Mobility National Strategy: $12.5 billion allocated through the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' for AAM integration including eVTOL testing, vertiport development, and Advanced Air Mobility frameworks
7. Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI): Approximately $2.04 billion in grant funding for rail infrastructure upgrades across the country through FRA program

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

The U.S. Department of Transportation is the federal cabinet agency responsible for overseeing and regulating all modes of U.S. transportation — aviation, highways, rail, maritime, pipelines, motor carrier, and public transit — through its eleven-plus modal administrations. It administers multi-billion-dollar infrastructure grant programs to states, localities, and tribal governments, sets and enforces safety standards, certifies aircraft and motor vehicles, operates the national air traffic control system through the FAA, and protects transportation consumers including airline passengers.

Product overview

The U.S. Department of Transportation operates as a federal agency overseeing multiple transportation modes through distinct operating administrations, offering a portfolio of grant programs and modernization initiatives rather than a unified commercial product. Key offerings include the BUILD Grants program for general infrastructure, Airport Improvement Program for aviation, Port Infrastructure Development Program for maritime, Railroad Crossing Elimination and Bridge Investment Programs for surface transportation, and Emergency Relief for disaster recovery. Major modernization initiatives include the $12.5 billion Modern Skies air traffic control overhaul (BNATCS), eVTOL Integration Pilot Program for advanced air mobility, American Supply Chain Sovereignty Initiative for freight visibility, and emerging regulatory frameworks for autonomous vehicles and supersonic flight.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) Discretionary Grants Federal competitive grant program providing capital funding to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments for highway, bridge, transit, rail, port, and intermodal surface transportation projects that have a significant national or regional impact. Awarded through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity, recipients typically provide 20% local match and select projects through planning, environmental review, and procurement aligned with federal standards. Recipients include state DOTs, MPOs, transit agencies, tribal governments, port authorities, and similar entities.
• Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Federal grant program administered by the FAA that provides entitlement and discretionary funding for airport planning and capital development at public-use airports, including runways, taxiways, aprons, terminals, and safety infrastructure. Recipients are public airport sponsors — airport authorities, cities, counties, and state agencies — that own or operate primary, non-primary, and reliever airports. Grant assurance compliance and FAA design standards are required. Includes both formula entitlements and discretionary awards through annual NOFOs.
• Port Infrastructure Development Program Competitive federal grant program administered by the Maritime Administration that funds modernization of port facilities outside the small eligible set covered by the Marine Highway Program. Eligible recipients include port authorities, states, municipalities, and other public entities that own or operate a publicly accessible marine terminal. Funds may be used for capital improvements such as berth deepening, dock upgrades, intermodal yards, and port electrification. Annual Notice of Funding Opportunity processes applications across U.S. coastal and inland river port locations.
• Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program Federal competitive grant program providing funding to states, tribes, localities, and public agencies for projects that eliminate at-grade highway-railway crossings through grade separation, closure, or related safety improvements. Applicants typically include state DOTs, county/local governments, and metropolitan planning organizations that partner with railroad operators. Awards require FRA environmental review and execution of a grant agreement. Specific annual awards are listed in FRA grant dashboards.
• Bridge Investment Program Federal competitive grant program under the FHWA that funds the rehabilitation, preservation, or replacement of bridges and large culverts on the National Highway System or off-system bridges that improve safety and mobility. Eligible applicants include state DOTs, MPOs, counties, and other entities eligible under federal-aid highway program rules. Application cycles include a rolling Planning NOFO and discretionary Bridge Project NOFOs; awards range from smaller planning grants to large-scale multi-year bridge construction projects. Eligibility criteria follow the National Bridge Inventory condition rating thresholds.
• Emergency Relief (ER) Program Federal Highway Administration program that reimburses state DOTs, federal land management agencies, and tribal governments for the repair or reconstruction of federal-aid highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic failures. Eligible events are declared by the FHWA Administrator after a formal state request; the program also covers emergency ferry and evacuation operations. Funding is supplemental through congressional emergency appropriations.
• Urbanized Area Formula Grants (FTA Section 5307) Federal Transit Administration formula funding program providing capital, planning, and operating assistance to public transit agencies in urbanized areas with populations above 50,000. Apportionments are calculated by statutory formula and paid to designated recipients — typically transit authorities, MPOs, and state DOTs — that deliver fixed-route bus and rail transit service. Use of funds is constrained by FTA circulars and requires National Transit Database reporting. Operating assistance is only available to urbanized areas under 200,000 population; larger areas must use funds for capital purposes.
• FAA Air Traffic Control System (National Airspace System) Federally operated air traffic control system within the FAA that provides separation services, navigation aids, weather dissemination, and airport traffic management to commercial, cargo, and general aviation operators. Services are delivered through a network of 21 Air Route Traffic Control Centers, terminal radar approach controls, and tower facilities, supported by NextGen satellite-based surveillance technology. Customers include airline operators, business aviation, and the Department of Defense on a coordinated basis. Users pay FAA through ticket taxes and segment fees that fund the Airport and Airway Trust Fund.
• Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) Certification National Highway Traffic Safety Administration program that defines and enforces Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) covering crashworthiness, occupant protection, lighting, brakes, tires, and electronic systems. Manufacturers and importers of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment must certify compliance before sale in interstate commerce; NHTSA conducts testing, defect investigations, and recalls. The program is mandatory for vehicle manufacturers and is funded through congressional appropriations. Certification involves self-certification by manufacturers with NHTSA oversight testing.
• Airline Consumer Protection and Complaint Program USDOT aviation consumer protection program that accepts and investigates consumer complaints against U.S. and foreign air carriers regarding flights to/from the U.S., enforces rules on refunds, delays, tarmac waits, disability accommodation, and full-fare advertising, and publishes a monthly Air Travel Consumer Report. Service is available to U.S. consumers and produces industry-published data used by airlines, travel agencies, and regulators. Consumers file complaints through airconsumer.dot.gov; carriers face enforcement actions for repeated violations.
• Pipeline Safety Program (PHMSA) PHMSA program that develops and enforces safety standards for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines, including LNG and underground storage facilities. Operating pipeline operators must comply with federal standards and report incidents; PHMSA partners with state pipeline safety agencies for inspections and investigations. The program certifies operating practices for interstate and intrastate pipelines.
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program Federal contracting program requiring recipients of USDOT federal-aid funds (state DOTs, transit agencies, airports) to set race- and gender-neutral goals and contracting procedures that ensure nondiscriminatory opportunity for small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Compliance is a condition of receiving federal-aid highway, transit, and airport grants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 700+ unauthorized drones seized during FIFA World Cup 2026 - largest counter-drone operation in U.S. history
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability11 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• FBI National Counter-UAS Training CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2026FBI National Counter-UAS Training Center led counter-drone operations during FIFA World Cup 2026, the largest civilian anti-drone operation in U.S. history. Seized 700+ unauthorized drones across 11 host cities with $500 million in software systems deployed. Congress passed Safer Skies Act in December 2025 extending counter-drone authority to state, local, tribal and territorial law enforcement.
• Frequentis AGcoreTechnology or Integration · 21 July 2026Completed production of the 15,000th Air-to-Ground Protocol Converter (APC) for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Brand-New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) modernisation programme managed by the FAA. Partnership with Virginia-based electronics manufacturer ComSonics, Inc. for accelerated delivery timelines from eight years to twelve months.
• Hanwha Philly ShipyardflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 July 2026$2 billion investment to build two new Missile Range Instrumentation Vessels (MRIV) at Hanwha Philly Shipyard as part of President's Maritime Dominance objectives. TOTE Services manages shipbuilding process under vessel construction management model, having already delivered four NSMVs on time and on budget.
• TOTE ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 17 July 2026Tapped to manage shipbuilding process for new military vessels under vessel construction management model. Has already delivered four National Security Multi-Mission Vessels on time and on budget to DOT Maritime Administration, with fifth delivery scheduled for 2027.
• BETA TechnologiesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2026Completed first interstate eVTOL organ transport flight test using ALIA electric aircraft from Virginia to Maryland as part of FAA's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program. Multiple aircraft and airports involved with ground crews transferring medical transport cooler between aircraft to complete multi-segment mission. Partnership with United Therapeutics Corporation for manufactured organ transport.
• Ports of IndianacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2026$25 million BUILD grant for transformational redevelopment of Jeffersonville port operations, representing largest single federal grant in the port's history since 1985. $32 million expansion will more than double cargo footprint, increase lift capacity from 35 tons to 300 tons, and add 300-ton crane system.
• Reliable RoboticsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026Selected by U.S. Department of Transportation to test autonomous cargo flights at Albuquerque International Sunport under Advanced Air Mobility Integration Pilot Program. Company developing automation system with FAA to enable remotely piloted operations of Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft. Recently announced $160 million in new funding from investors including Boeing and RTX Ventures.
• Oklahoma City (Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 26 June 2026$8.3 million V-PAR vertiport testing facility at Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center for eVTOL and Advanced Air Mobility aircraft testing. Includes touchdown and liftoff area, taxiway, electric aircraft charging capability, and observation facility. Completion scheduled for summer 2027.
• Air Space Intelligence (ASI)coreTechnology or Integration · 22 June 2026FAA awarded $875 million, 12-year contract to Air Space Intelligence to deploy the SMART system for overhauling U.S. flight scheduling and reducing congestion. ASI defeated larger competitors Palantir Technologies Inc. and Thales SA. System will analyze airline schedules, weather, airport capacity, and operational constraints to predict traffic flows and identify potential conflicts before aircraft departure.
• Port of Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026Secretary Duffy announced American Supply Chain Sovereignty Initiative at Port of Los Angeles, a centralized freight visibility dashboard linking ports, ocean carriers, trucking companies, railroads, and major retailers including Walmart. Builds upon existing Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) program with 86 members including CMA CGM.
• Angelo State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026FAA partnership with Angelo State University to implement Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative, becoming first college in Texas to join the program. Part of effort to attract gamers as next-generation air traffic controllers.
• Contour AirlinesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026Selected by U.S. Department of Transportation under Essential Air Service program to provide service at Merced Regional Airport for a four-year term. Launching nonstop service from Merced Yosemite Regional Airport to Los Angeles and Las Vegas using 30-seat regional jets.
• Penn Transformation Partners (Halmar and Skanska JV)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Joint venture between Halmar and Skanska selected as Master Developer for New York Penn Station transformation project, one of the largest infrastructure projects in U.S. history with groundbreaking expected end of 2027. HNTB-HOK Joint Venture with Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) selected as design team. USDOT has invested $243 million total to support design and permitting work.
• KBRcoreTechnology or Integration · 28 April 2026KBR won a recompete contract worth up to $200 million from DOT to provide AI, machine learning, modeling, simulation, and engineering services to the DOT's John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center. Five-year Blanket Purchase Agreement spans multiple DOT modal agencies including FAA, FHWA, FMCSA, and NHTSA.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Transport Canada: Transport Canada is the federal department that regulates and funds transportation policy across aviation, marine, rail, and road modes. It is the closest international analog to DOT in scope, regulatory authority, and grant-making function.
• UK Department for Transport: The UK DfT is a cabinet-level department responsible for transport policy, regulation, and infrastructure investment across aviation, rail, roads, and maritime. It mirrors DOT's role as a national transportation policy authority in a comparable political system.
• Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development: Australia's national transport department oversees aviation, road, rail, and maritime policy with grant-making and regulatory functions analogous to DOT. It is a comparable cabinet-level transportation authority in a developed economy.

Broad incumbents

• European Commission DG MOVE: DG MOVE sets pan-EU transportation policy and funds cross-border transport infrastructure (TEN-T). It is a broader regulatory player than DOT in geographic scope but does not directly operate or grant funds at the national-program scale DOT does.

Regional players

• California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA): CalSTA oversees California's state-level transportation departments (Caltrans, CHP) and is a major recipient of DOT federal-aid highway funds. It is the largest state-level transportation authority in the U.S., comparable in regulatory scope to DOT at sub-national scale.
• Texas Department of Transportation: TxDOT is one of the largest state DOTs in the U.S., managing the state highway system and a major recipient of FHWA funding. Its functions (highway planning, construction, maintenance, safety) closely mirror a substantial slice of DOT's responsibilities at the state level.
• New York State Department of Transportation: NYSDOT operates the state highway system and is a recipient of significant federal transportation funding. It is currently in a high-profile federal-state dispute with DOT over CDL compliance, making it a direct counterparty for DOT policy.

Others

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): NASA, currently led by DOT Secretary Duffy as acting administrator, is a peer federal agency with overlapping aerospace R&D and airspace interests. While not a transportation regulator, it shares airspace data, aviation safety research, and supersonic flight policy concerns with DOT/FAA.
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS): DHS is a peer federal agency that collaborated with DOT on the World Cup 2026 counter-drone operations and CDL fraud investigations. It is an adjacent regulatory and security partner rather than a transportation peer, but shares enforcement and airspace-security responsibilities.
• Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA): The MTA operates public transit in the New York region and is a major recipient of FTA grants. It was removed from leading the Penn Station project and is currently under DOT scrutiny, making it a counterpart agency rather than a true peer in regulatory function.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/usdot
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/usdotgov
• Facebookfacebook.com/usdot
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/us-department-of-transportation-dot
• Instagraminstagram.com/usdot

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments82 records

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Frequently asked questions about U.S. Department of Transportation