PHMSA Announces New Administrator

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has new leadership. On September 18, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed Paul J. Roberti as Administrator, filling a role that had been vacant since 2021.

Roberti brings a background that blends law, science, and regulatory work. He earned his undergraduate degree in chemistry from the College of the Holy Cross before going on to receive his law degree, cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School. That mix of technical and legal training has been a constant thread in his career.

He spent much of his early career in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, where he served as Assistant Attorney General and later as Chief of the Regulatory Division. In 2009, he was appointed to the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission, where he worked on regulatory matters related to utilities and consumer protection until 2016.

Roberti is no stranger to PHMSA. He previously served as the agency’s Chief Counsel, advising on hazardous materials and pipeline safety law, putting his education in chemistry and law to work. More recently, he has worked in the private sector in compliance and risk management roles, including at EY (Ernst & Young).

Now, as Administrator, Roberti will oversee PHMSA’s work regulating the safe transport of hazardous materials and maintaining the integrity of the nation’s pipeline system.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy also welcomed other two new Administrators to the Department after the U.S. Senate confirmed them in a vote of 51-47. They are:

Sean McMaster as the 22nd Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and

Jonathan Morrison as the 17th Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“Sean, Jonathan, and Paul are strong leaders who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Department. Their work will help us rebuild America’s infrastructure, protect families on the road, and unleash American energy,” Secretary Duffy announced. “America is building again, and the expertise of our new administrators will allow us to execute President Trump’s bold transportation agenda.”

Conclusion

The installation of a PHMSA administrator, following a four-year gap, is an encouraging sign that transport safety is being seen as an important issue by the Department of Transportation. Mr Roberti’s previous experience with PHMSA duties and staff should help him guide the department in future.

Do you have any questions about legal requirements for transportation of hazardous chemicals in either the United States or Canada? ICC Compliance Center has a team of full-time Regulatory Experts who have years of experience and are certified/recognized in their field of expertise. Ask us your tough questions by calling 888.442.9628 (USA) or 888.977.4834 (Canada) or send us an email. We’ll be glad to help!