Moving Words – DOT Chief Nominee
Timothy Brady
“There can be no doubt that the transportation sector is the most critical sector of our economy.“ – Robert Brady
On November 18, 2024, president-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the U.S. Department of Transportation was named, former Wisconsin US Rep. Sean Duffy (R). In a statement released at the time, Trump said, “Sean will use his experience and the relationships he has built over many years in Congress to maintain and rebuild our nation’s infrastructure, and fulfill our mission of ushering in the golden age of travel, focusing on safety, efficiency and innovation.”
Who is Sean Duffy, the presumptive secretary of the DOT?
Duffy is 53 years old, has a marketing degree from St. Mary’s University, and a J.D. degree from William Mitchell College of Law.
His political career began in 2002 when he was appointed Ashland County District Attorney to succeed Michael Gableman by Governor Scott McCallum. He ran unopposed and was reelected in 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008.
In 2009 he announced his run for the US House of Representatives in Wisconsin’s 7th District. He won the election on November 2, 2010, as part of a nationwide sweep of Republicans being elected to Congress that year. He was reelected again in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018. During his near-decade in Congress, he was a member of the Financial Services Committee.
The only transportation-related legislation Duffy introduced was on January 24, 2019 that would have given then-President Trump expansive new power to raise tariffs in response to actions taken by other countries. In a statement at the time Duffy said, “The goal of the U.S. Reciprocal Trade Act is NOT to raise America’s tariffs but rather to encourage the rest of the world to lower theirs.” Duffy also said, “The American people deserve FREE and FAIR trade, and the Reciprocal Trade Act will be an important step in achieving that goal.” Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, who controlled the Senate Finance Committee that oversees trade issues, had already dismissed the idea of the bill advancing in 2019. When asked about the bill, Grassley told reporters, “We ain’t gonna give him (Trump) any greater authority.” The bill had 18 Republican co-sponsors.
In August of 2019, Duffy announced his resignation from Congress effective on September 23, 2019 because he and his wife, who was pregnant with their ninth child, learned the child had health complications including a heart condition. Their daughter, Valentina, was born on Oct. 1, and was diagnosed with Down Syndrome.
Duffy is a former reality TV star who was featured on MTV’s “The Real World: Boston” in 1997. He met his future wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, on the set of MTV’s “Road Rules: All Stars” in 1998.
Campos-Duffy currently is a co-host with Pete Hegseth, of “Fox & Friends Weekend.” Hegseth is Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense.
Duffy himself joined Fox News as a contributor in 2020 and has been one of Trump’s most visible defenders on cable news, a concern for the media-focused president-elect. He served as co-host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business until leaving the network November 25, 2024. Duffy is the second Fox-affiliated host to be tapped by Trump.
What does the trucking industry think of Duffy’s nomination?
According to an article dated November 21, 2024, in ‘Transport Topics’:
“American Trucking Associations, as well as groups representing the highway construction sector and state transportation agencies, praised the nominee.”
“During his time in the House, Sean Duffy was focused on issues facing our industry and supported pro-trucking policies to strengthen the supply chain and our ability to keep the nation’s goods moving safely and efficiently,” ATA President Chris Spear said. “Roads and bridges are our shop floor. We know [former Rep.] Duffy understands that and the opportunity now before us to improve our transportation network by reducing congestion, investing in truck parking, enhancing highway safety and supporting the development of innovative technologies. He is an exceptional choice to lead the Department of Transportation, and we congratulate him on his nomination and look forward to working with him in this role.”
“As a former member of Congress, Sean Duffy understands how to navigate the political landscape in Washington to get things done, something that we will need in the next leader of the U.S. Department of Transportation as we begin the process of reauthorizing the federal surface transportation programs,” said Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
American Road and Transportation Builders Association President and CEO Dave Bauer, “If confirmed, Rep. Duffy will be leading the Department of Transportation at a critical time, including continued deployment of record levels of federal highway, public transportation and airport infrastructure investments, and reauthorization of the surface transportation programs scheduled for 2026.”
“The reality about transportation is that it’s future-oriented. If we’re planning for what we have, we’re behind the curve.” – Anthony Foxx
