The Senate confirmed former congressman Sean Duffy (R) Tuesday to be the Trump administration’s Transportation Secretary.
The GOP-controlled Senate confirmed Duffy Tuesday in a 77-22 vote after the chamber voted unanimously Monday to push him past a procedural hurdle. Duffy made it out of the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously and his nomination was not contentious.
Some Democrats opposed Duffy’s confirmation to voice their discontent with President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget for temporarily freezing federal grants. The Trump administration has said direct government assistance to Americans will not be affected by the pause.
Duffy was previously a Fox News personality and a Republican congressman from Wisconsin for eight years. A devout Catholic, Duffy’s wife Rachel is also a Fox News personality and they share nine children.
Duffy will play an important role in the Trump administration’s deregulatory agenda and infrastructure policy. He will handle agencies including Federal Aviation Administration and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
“President Trump, he is a builder. He wants to invest in rebuilding our nation’s crumbling infrastructure,” Duffy said at his confirmation hearing. “I will work to the reduce the red tape that slows critical infrastructure projects, ensuring funds are spent efficiently.”
“We will craft clear regulations which balance safety, innovation, and cutting edge technology, but always focused on safety.”
Senators from both parties praised Duffy’s qualifications to run the Department of Transportation and expressed excitement about working with him to improve American infrastructure.
“I am confident that Sean is the right person for this job in this coming, upcoming administration. I believe he will help deliver for Wisconsin families, businesses, and workers, and I expect that he will work through this committee and both sides of the aisle to improve our infrastructure and address the challenges that arise in the years ahead,” said Senator Tammy Baldwin (D., Wisc.).
The GOP-controlled Senate is intent on confirming Trump’s cabinet nominees as quickly as possible to allow his administration to get off to a running start. Trump’s picks for key roles such as the Secretary of State, Treasury Secretary, Homeland Security secretary, and Pentagon Secretary have already been confirmed a week into his term.
Last week, President Trump ordered the FAA to end the Biden administration’s hiring policy that prioritized diversity, equity, and inclusion. Trump is requiring the FAA administrator to return to a merit-based hiring system to ensure American air travel remains safe.
Conservatives have criticized the existence of DEI hiring in the airline industry as a potential threat to safety because it leads to hiring based on demographic criterial rather than qualifications.