President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Sean Duffy, a former congressman and current Fox Business host, as his choice for transportation secretary. In a statement released on Monday, Donald Trump praised Duffy as a “tremendous and well-liked public servant” capable of ushering in what he described as a “golden age of travel.” The appointment marks a continuation of Donald Trump’s trend of drawing from the media, as Duffy becomes the second Fox host tapped for a cabinet role, following defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth.
Donald Trump outlined an ambitious vision for the nation’s transportation infrastructure under Duffy’s leadership, emphasizing priorities like excellence, competitiveness, and aesthetic quality. The president-elect highlighted Duffy’s mission to revitalize America’s highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, ports, and dams in ways that bolster the economy and maintain national security. Donald Trump also noted Duffy’s commitment to overhauling the aviation sector by removing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which he criticized as prioritizing identity over merit in critical roles such as pilots and air traffic controllers.
Duffy, who represented Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District from 2011 to 2019, stepped down from Congress to focus on family. Since then, he has co-hosted The Bottom Line on Fox Business, maintaining his reputation as a staunch Donald Trump ally. His nomination comes amid significant challenges in the transportation sector, including a post-COVID surge in road fatalities, safety concerns at Boeing, and rail security questions stemming from the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
If confirmed by the Senate, Duffy will oversee the sprawling Department of Transportation, which employs 55,000 people and includes key agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. His role will also intersect with major corporations like Tesla, as the department regulates the automotive and aerospace industries. The nomination aligns with Donald Trump’s broader plans to streamline government operations, which include appointing Tesla CEO Elon Musk to lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency.”
Duffy would succeed Pete Buttigieg, President Joe Biden’s transportation secretary, whose tenure faced scrutiny over airline disruptions and infrastructure challenges. Donald Trump had previously encouraged Duffy to run for governor of Wisconsin in 2022, calling him “virtually unbeatable,” but Duffy declined.
Before his political career, Duffy gained national attention as a star on MTV’s The Real World: Boston and Road Rules: All Stars in the 1990s, adding a unique dimension to his public profile.
