President-elect Donald Trump has announced the nomination of former Wisconsin Representative Sean Duffy to serve as his Secretary of Transportation, continuing the rollout of his Cabinet selections.
Duffy, who gained national attention as a reality TV star and a prominent defender of Trump on cable news, served in the House for nearly nine years. He was a member of the Financial Services Committee and chaired the subcommittee on insurance and housing before leaving Congress in 2019. Following his departure from politics, Duffy became a co-host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business.
In his announcement, Trump highlighted Duffy’s close ties to Fox News, referring to him as “the husband of a wonderful woman, Rachel Campos-Duffy, a STAR on Fox News.” Duffy’s nomination marks the second appointment of a Fox-affiliated television personality to Trump’s Cabinet, following the selection of Pete Hegseth as defense secretary.
Trump expressed confidence in Duffy’s ability to leverage his congressional experience and relationships to enhance the nation’s infrastructure. He emphasized Duffy’s mission to usher in “The Golden Age of Travel,” focusing on safety, efficiency, and innovation to improve the travel experience for all Americans.
Despite Trump’s encouragement for Duffy to run for governor of Wisconsin in 2022, Duffy declined, citing family obligations, including caring for his nine children, one of whom has a heart condition. His background includes work as a special prosecutor and district attorney in Ashland County, Wisconsin, and he first entered the public eye on MTV’s “The Real World: Boston” in 1997.
If confirmed, Duffy will take over the Transportation Department at a time of significant change, particularly concerning the nation’s highways. Traffic fatalities remain alarmingly high, and new technologies such as autonomous vehicles are emerging without clear federal regulations. The shift towards electric vehicles also presents safety challenges, particularly regarding battery fires.
Nicholas Calio, president and CEO of Airlines for America, expressed enthusiasm for Duffy’s nomination, stating, “Congressman Duffy has a proven track record for getting things done, and we are eager to collaborate with him on key issues impacting the U.S. airline industry.”
Trump has previously criticized electric vehicles as costly and unreliable, labeling President Joe Biden’s policies promoting them as “lunacy.” However, his rhetoric has softened recently, especially after receiving support from Elon Musk. Industry insiders anticipate that Trump may seek to slow the transition to electric vehicles and potentially eliminate tax credits for EV purchases.
In his statement, Trump emphasized that Duffy would prioritize excellence and beauty in rebuilding America’s infrastructure, including highways, tunnels, bridges, and airports. He also indicated a desire to enhance safety in aviation by eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives for pilots and air traffic controllers.
Duffy’s nomination is part of a broader strategy by Trump to reshape his administration with figures who align closely with his media-savvy and populist approach.
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