Perhaps the role is so problematic for him because he sucks at it.

Instead, the job of Transportation secretary has been a set of compounding problems for Buttigieg, 41, who has been seen as one of the Democratic Party’s brightest stars.

Buttigieg has been blasted for taking too long to travel to East Palestine, Ohio, the site of a train derailment that has created serious environmental and health concerns for the community.

In January, he bore the brunt of criticism over a disastrous holiday travel season for Southwest Airlines, which resulted in thousands of people being stranded. And that same month, he was criticized over problems with the FAA, which had to ground flights for two hours for the first time in more than 20 years.

“I don’t think his story was supposed to go this way,” said one Democratic strategist. “I think he took the job thinking there wouldn’t be a lot of risk surrounding the role. I don’t think he understood how political this job would be and how he’d be a punching bag.”