Donna R. McLean

Donna R. McLean, of the District of Columbia, was nominated on May 16, 2006, by President George W. Bush to be a Member of the AMTRAK Reform Board. McLean's nomination was sent to the U.S. Senate for confirmation on May 16, 2006. If confirmed, McLean would serve for a term of five years, vice John Robert Smith, whose term has expired.

Donna McLean is President of Donna McLean Associates, LLC, "a Washington, DC-based consulting firm specializing in transportation policy." 

Bush Supporter
Ms. Donna R. McLean, listed as a self-employed consultant, contributed $2,000 to President George W. Bush's re-election campaign (Primary) in April 2004. 

In the 2004 election cycle, McLean also contributed to the re-election campaigns of Representatives Joseph K. Knollenberg (R-MI 09) and Harold D. Rogers (R-KY 05) and Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT). 

Congressional Lobbyist
McLean left federal service in March 2004 "to launch a consulting firm specializing in federal transportation policies and government relations." 

McLean's "operation" Donna McLean Associates was "housed in the offices of Cornerstone Government Affairs, with whom she [has had] a strategic alliance and for whom she [serves] as a senior advisor." 

Donna McLean Associates, LLC is currently a registered lobbyist with the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives for Boeing Air Traffic Management, Indiana University, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Project ACTA, Inc., and Unite Alliance. 

Profiles
McLean was nominated April 3, 2001, by President George W. Bush to be an Assistant Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation, under Secretary Norman Y. Mineta. McLean replaced Peter J. Basso, Jr., who had resigned.

At the time of her nomination in April 2001 to the Department of Transportation, McLean was the Chief Financial Officer at the Federal Aviation Administration. McLean had commenced service at the FAA in August 1999 as Assistant Administrator for Financial Services. 

Prior to that appointment, from 1993-1999, McLean was a professional staff member for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Aviation Subcommittee, U.S. House of Representatives. 

"McLean also has previous experience as a Program Analyst for the Office of the Secretary, Department of Transportation and as a budget examiner at the Office of Management and Budget" "during the Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations.

"Donna received her Masters in Public Policy from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Her undergraduate bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Anthropology were also from Indiana University." 

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * Bush administration cronyism and incompetence

Profiles

 * Biography: Donna McLean, Cornerstone Government Affairs website.

Articles & Commentary

 * "Donna McLean Becomes Assistant Secretary for the Office of Budget and Programs and Chief Financial Officer," U.S. Department of Transportation, June 4, 2001.
 * Statement of Donna R. McLean, Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs Before the Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs, Committee on Government Reform, July 31, 2001.
 * Bill Stephens, "Bush administration may reveal passenger rail plan Thursday," Trains Magazine, June 19, 2002.
 * Nominations Sent to the Senate, November 25, 2003: "Linda Morrison Combs, of North Carolina, to be an Assistant Secretary of Transportation, vice Donna R. McLean, resigned."
 * "Senior Official Leaves Department of Transportation to Launch New Firm," Cornerstone Government Affairs, March 3, 2004.
 * Press Release: "Emergency Board Created to Investigate Dispute Between SEPTA and UTU," National Mediation Board, August 11, 2004: "Donna R. McLean of Washington, DC" appointed.
 * "More on Amtrak nominations," Getting There Blog, May 18, 2006.