Travel Elaine Chao has authority to require airline refunds and COVID safety. She should use it. June 17, 2020 Anna Laitin and William J. McGee, Opinion contributors Comments Off on Elaine Chao has authority to require airline refunds and COVID safety. She should use it. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao is not protecting travelers the way her predecessors did. Refund and safety decisions should not be up to airlines.