The Acting Administrator of the FMCSA Quickly, Quietly Resigns

FMCSA Acting Administrator Departs After Just Two Weeks

Adrienne Camire’s Sudden Exit Sets Record for Shortest Term

Adrienne Camire is no longer acting administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). She left the position only two weeks after being appointed. Her short term is now the briefest in FMCSA history.

Camire was appointed on March 7. By March 21, her name and title were removed from the FMCSA’s website. This includes the press release that announced her appointment. No official statement was made about her departure.

Neither FMCSA nor the Department of Transportation (DOT) has offered an explanation.

Experienced Background in Government and Law

Camire brought more than 20 years of experience to the position. She served as chief counsel to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) during President Donald Trump’s first term. She has also worked as an attorney and adjunct professor.

Camire holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science from Brandeis University. She also earned a law degree from Suffolk University Law School.

She was not originally expected to lead the agency. In January, DOT Secretary Sean Duffy said Camire would serve as a senior advisor to the FMCSA administrator. It is unknown whether she will return to that role.

FMCSA Website Quietly Updated

The FMCSA removed all signs of Camire from its website. Her name no longer appears on the leadership page. The press release that welcomed her to the position is also gone.

The agency has made no announcement about who is now in charge. However, the website currently lists Sue Lawless as Executive Director and Chief Safety Officer. Jesse Elison is listed as Chief Counsel.

A History of Turnover at the Top

Camire is the latest in a long line of short-term leaders at the FMCSA. The agency has faced frequent leadership changes for several years. Since the end of President Obama’s second term, only two leaders have been confirmed by the Senate. Those were Ray Martinez and Robin Hutcheson. Both eventually stepped down.

Several others have filled the role temporarily. These include Meera Joshi, Sue Lawless, and Wiley Deck. Before Camire, Deck held the record for the shortest term. He served for five months during the final part of the Trump administration.

Camire Appeared Publicly Days Before Removal

Just three days before her name was removed from the FMCSA website, Camire appeared at a public event. On March 18, FMCSA posted on social media about her visit to the Community College of Baltimore County. She met with students in the CDL training program. She also spoke with college officials and instructors. Camire even took the wheel on the school’s closed training course.

That visit is one of the few public moments of her brief time at the agency.

DOT Remains Silent on Departure

The DOT has not released any information about Camire’s sudden exit. Secretary Duffy praised her leadership when she was first appointed.

“I am pleased to welcome Adrienne Camire as Acting Administrator of FMCSA,” Duffy said in the now-deleted press release. “Ms. Camire is a dedicated leader who brings executive experience, vision, and a strong commitment to safety. I have no doubt FMCSA will continue to make our roads safer and keep America moving under her leadership.”

Since then, there have been no further comments from the DOT or FMCSA.

What Comes Next for FMCSA Leadership?

The FMCSA handles many important parts of the trucking industry. These include safety regulations, hours-of-service rules, and new technologies. Frequent changes in leadership can make it harder for the agency to stay focused.

With Camire’s quick departure, the trucking industry is once again left wondering who will step up. It also raises the question of how long the next leader will last.