Why It Matters
Massachusetts has left vacant one of its most significant cabinet positions for nine months without publicly advertising for a replacement, raising questions about how long the state intends to operate without a dedicated transportation secretary and whether leadership has a plan to fill the role.
What Happened
Phil Eng, who heads the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, has served simultaneously as interim secretary of the Department of Transportation since October 2025, when Monica Tibbits-Nutt stepped down from the cabinet post. The dual arrangement began when Tibbits-Nutt departed, nine months ago, and no successor has been named.
Neither the MBTA nor the state’s official career portal, MassCareers, displays job postings for either the transportation secretary position or for a replacement MBTA general manager. Governor Maura Healey did not directly answer when asked whether the state is actively hiring for either role. The Department of Transportation similarly declined to address whether it is advertising for a secretary.
Eng, who assumed the MBTA general manager role in April 2023 under former secretary Gina Fiandaca, has stated he has “no timeline” for when the dual duty will end. His contract as MBTA general manager runs through April 10, 2028. He is not receiving compensation for his work as interim transportation secretary.
Healey cited Eng’s track record at the transit agency, noting his work eliminating slow zones and establishing new commuter rail lines, and said she has confidence in his abilities. She had reaffirmed this confidence in June 2025.
By the Numbers
9 months — duration of Eng’s dual role as both MBTA general manager and interim transportation secretary
April 10, 2028 — end date of Eng’s five-year MBTA contract
$484,206 — Eng’s current annual base salary at the T as of July
$196,000 — Tibbits-Nutt’s 2024 salary as transportation secretary
$586,000 — Eng’s total earnings from the MBTA in 2024, including bonuses and a $30,000 annual retention payment beginning July 1, 2024
Zoom Out
Transportation leadership vacancies have emerged as a recurring challenge in Massachusetts. Fiandaca, Eng’s predecessor’s supervisor, left MassDOT in September 2023, and the state went through a transition period before Tibbits-Nutt assumed the role. The current gap underscores broader questions about succession planning at major state agencies and whether interim arrangements can sustain effective management of complex transit systems.
The situation reflects a pattern in state government where critical positions sometimes remain unfilled for extended periods without public recruitment, leaving agencies dependent on internal leadership to manage dual responsibilities. Unlike many other states that prioritize transparent job recruitment for cabinet-level transportation roles, Massachusetts has not made its search process public.
What’s Next
Eng is expected to continue in both roles without a defined timeline for transition. The state has not announced plans to formally recruit a transportation secretary or a replacement MBTA general manager, meaning the dual arrangement may persist through the remainder of Healey’s current term and potentially beyond.