US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday named Elaine Chao, the former secretary of labor, to be his choice for transportation secretary.

Chao, the first woman of Asian descent to be appointed to a president's cabinet when she was named by president George W. Bush as labor secretary, is the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

If confirmed by the Senate, she would be expected to play a key role in Trump's plan to get Congress to approve $1 trillion for rebuilding the nation's roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Republicans in Congress have resisted the Obama administration's attempt to fund an infrastructure program.