Category: Private Citizen — Corporate Director / Former Federal Official Role: Independent Director, Caterpillar Inc. Board Tenure: 2009 – present Committee Memberships: Sustainability & Public Policy Committee; Nominating & Governance Committee Profile Type: Board Member Accountability — Anchor B (Documented Organizational Leadership)

Basis for Inclusion: Susan C. Schwab holds a documented governance role at Caterpillar Inc. Caterpillar Inc. is a major industrial manufacturer that made documented political donations to Trump-aligned entities. Caterpillar has significant government defense contract relationships (military vehicles) and is substantially affected by federal infrastructure spending, trade policy, and export controls. Schwab’s prior role as U.S. Trade Representative gives her particular relevance to Caterpillar’s exposure to trade policy, tariffs, and export controls — areas of direct material concern for the company. This profile documents the factual governance relationship, not the subject’s personal political views.

Subject Classification: Private Citizen / Corporate Director. Board membership is a matter of public record (SEC filings, proxy statements). This profile documents only the governance role and its connection to documented corporate political activity.

What is NOT the basis for inclusion: Susan C. Schwab’s personal political opinions, party affiliation, public statements, or any protected speech are NOT the basis for inclusion.

Biographical Overview

Susan C. Schwab served as the United States Trade Representative from 2006 to 2009 under President George W. Bush, one of the most senior trade policy positions in the federal government. As USTR, she was the principal trade advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson for trade policy issues and oversaw the negotiation of multiple bilateral and multilateral trade agreements. Prior to USTR, she served as Deputy USTR, and before that as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Import Administration and in various roles in the office of U.S. Senator John Danforth. After her government service, Schwab became a Professor of Public Policy at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, where she is now Professor Emerita. She joined the Caterpillar Board in 2009 and has served for over 15 years, bringing unique expertise on international trade, tariff policy, and export controls — all of which directly affect Caterpillar’s global business. She serves on the Sustainability & Public Policy Committee and the Nominating & Governance Committee.

Board Role and Governance Authority

• Company: Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT)
• Board tenure: 2009 – present (longest-serving board member other than Debra Reed-Klages)
• Committee assignments: Sustainability & Public Policy Committee; Nominating & Governance Committee
• Prior federal role: U.S. Trade Representative (Cabinet-level), 2006–2009, George W. Bush administration
• Other prior roles: Deputy USTR; Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Import Administration; senior Senate staff
• Academic role: Professor Emerita, University of Maryland School of Public Policy

Accountability Context

Schwab’s prior role as U.S. Trade Representative is particularly relevant to Caterpillar’s current accountability profile. Caterpillar is one of the largest U.S. exporters of industrial machinery and is significantly exposed to U.S.-China trade policy, tariffs on steel and aluminum inputs, and federal export controls on technology components. The Sustainability & Public Policy Committee — of which Schwab is a member — is the committee with primary oversight over Caterpillar’s federal policy engagement, government relations, and political spending.

Parent Corporate Donor Profile

This profile is a governance-accountability companion to the Caterpillar corporate donor profile.

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Investigative trail pointers (public records)

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Sources

• Caterpillar Inc. DEF 14A Proxy Statement, 2025; SEC EDGAR
• Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, historical records