Corporate Crackdown Project: Report — Commerce and Transportation

By: Daniel Boguslaw, Aidan Smith, and Anika Dandekar

The following report is the second installment of Data for Progress and the Revolving Door Project’s Corporate Crackdown Project. This memo assesses how agencies within the DOC and the DOT can use their powers to combat supply chain and trade issues through prioritizing citizen well-being over corporate profits. The report analyzes the powers of each relevant agency and provides a critical assessment of the Biden Administration’s record of utilizing these agencies thus far. Furthermore, the report provides policy recommendations in the interest of utilizing agency powers to benefit American consumers. The public polling data referenced in this memo was part of a national survey conducted by Data for Progress from January 29 to 31, 2022, testing 2,379 likely voters’ attitudes towards the policy recommendations outlined.

Within the Department of Commerce, this memo assesses the powers wielded by: 

  • The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), which wields authority in the realm of trademark registration and intellectual property (IP) identification;

  • The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which alongside the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plays a crucial role in developing America’s broadband infrastructure;

  • The International Trade Administration (ITA), which plays a major role in developing American  trade policy through promoting U.S. exports; and

  • The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), which is tasked with the development of export controls for commercial and some military technologies.

Within the Department of Transportation, this memo assesses the powers wielded by: 

  • The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), which is responsible for enforcing federal safety regulation of railroads and makes strategic investment in railroad maintenance and expansion; 

  • The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which oversees all domestic air regulation and labor standards in the airline industry;

  • The Maritime Administration (MARAD), which is responsible for oversight of American waterways and waterborne transportation; and

  • The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which regulates interstate trucking regulations.

Additionally, this memo examines the activities of the Surface Transportation Board (STB), an independent federal agency tasked with regulatory oversight of railroads and freight shippers.

Devi RuiaJustice, Economy