Edward C. Eppler

Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs

Edward C. Eppler serves as the Department's Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs, following his confirmation on August 7, 2026. In this capacity, he serves as the principal financial advisor to the Secretary and DOT leadership on budget strategy and financial management. This includes responsibility for ensuring robust financial oversight and overall financial accountability across the Department, as well as compliance with the amended CFO Act of 1990.

Eppler directs the Department’s budget formulation and execution, overseeing a total budget and contract authority exceeding $140 billion. Supported by his leadership team, he manages all aspects of the Department's financial operations, including financial audits, internal controls, and agency-wide performance, evaluation, and risk management.

Prior to joining the Department, Eppler spent more than 35 years in senior finance and accounting roles serving the aerospace, defense, and government services industries. This experience includes serving as Chief Financial Officer of a high-growth aerospace company and as a global investment banker at Goldman Sachs and Moelis & Company. Eppler graduated from Middlebury College with a BA in History and received an MBA in Finance from New York University. Eppler is an active instrument-rated private pilot.