Donald Trump has appointed Sean Duffy, a former Republican congressman from Wisconsin and contributor to Fox News, as the next secretary of transportation. Duffy is also known for his stint on MTV’s The Real World in 1997, where he met his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, who is now a Fox News contributor.
Duffy represented Wisconsin in Congress from 2011 to 2019 and served as district attorney for Ashland County from 2002 to 2008. Trump highlighted Duffy’s qualifications in a statement, saying he would focus on “Excellence, Competence, Competitiveness, and Beauty” in revitalizing the nation’s transportation systems. Trump added that Duffy would prioritize the safety and efficiency of ports, dams, highways, and airports while addressing security concerns and eliminating DEI policies in aviation.
During his congressional tenure, Duffy, 53, faced criticism for comments on CNN regarding differences between white supremacist violence and acts of terrorism by the Islamic State. He later clarified that while the Emanuel AME church shooting in 2015 was horrific, he believed its perpetrator was not part of an organized terror group like IS, emphasizing the importance of monitoring large hate groups such as the KKK.
In a 2017 op-ed for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Duffy praised Trump’s initial efforts to collaborate with corporations like Ford, General Motors, and Walmart to drive reinvestment in the U.S. economy. He stepped down from Congress in 2019, citing health complications during his wife’s pregnancy with their ninth child and a desire to focus on family.
If confirmed, Duffy will lead the Department of Transportation, managing a $110 billion budget and overseeing key areas like aviation, rail, and automotive policy. He will also oversee funds from the $1 trillion infrastructure law enacted during the Biden administration.
Trump has pledged to roll back Biden’s strict vehicle emissions standards, which aim to reduce tailpipe pollution by 50% by 2032 and push automakers to increase EV production. Duffy is expected to play a central role in implementing Trump’s transportation and environmental agenda.
