Highway safety nominee expected within two weeks

President Obama is expected to nominate someone to lead the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTHSA) within the next two weeks, according to a senior administration official. 

The highway safety agency has been operating without a full-time chief for most of the year amid widespread recalls at General Motors. 

The Obama administration official said the president is almost ready to make an appointment to take over the agency. 

{mosads}“I do expect within a very short time [Obama will] announce a nominee for NHTSA Administrator,” the official said. 

“I certainly don’t want to step in front of the president because it’s ultimately his call, but I do believe that’s coming shortly,” the official continued. “I would say … within the next two weeks.” 

Interim NHTSA Administrator David Friedman has been running the agency since its former chief David Strickland resigned at the beginning of the year. 

The administration official did not say if Friedman is in the running for the appointment to the full-time job, which will have to be confirmed by the Senate.