Duffy Reaffirms DOT’s Safety Focus Amid Air, Rail Concerns
[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.]
After becoming the nation’s top transportation official, Secretary Sean Duffy pointed to the Department of Transportation’s long-standing primary focus: safety.
Duffy’s reminder of the department’s hyperfocus on safety programs and initiatives came soon after an aviation crash in the Washington, D.C., airspace as well as on the second anniversary of the freight train derailment in Ohio.
Amid mounting national concerns about aviation safety, the Federal Aviation Administration on Jan. 31 restricted helicopter traffic along the Potomac River. The restrictions will stand until independent investigators finalize preliminary reports about the cause of a deadly collision between a commercial plane and a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
“This is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding our nation’s skies and upholding the highest standards of air travel safety,” the newly confirmed secretary said Jan. 31. “We will continue to support President [Donald] Trump’s directive to achieve uncompromised aviation safety. The American people deserve full confidence in our aviation system, and today’s action is a significant step towards restoring that trust.”
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, which has renewed attention about staffing criteria for air traffic controllers.
To mark the two-year anniversary of the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3, Duffy again emphasized Trump administration efforts and resources meant to guarantee safety along commercial and commuter corridors.
“The East Palestine community has shown its resilience while continuing to recover from the devastating train derailment that changed its residents’ lives forever,” Duffy said. “In partnership with the Trump-[Vice President J.D.] Vance administration and Congress, USDOT will work to advance rail safety. As President Trump has pledged, we will ensure the people of East Palestine are not forgotten, and we will use every resource to prevent other communities from enduring what they experienced.”
Vance
NTSB’s final report about East Palestine, published last year, determined a railcar’s defective wheel bearing was at fault; the bearing on a hopper car failed and overheated, according to the independent agency. The crash resulted in the release of hazardous material in the area.
On Capitol Hill, senior Democrats called on congressional Republican leaders to take up rail safety legislation. In 2023, the Commerce Committee on freight policy passed the Railway Safety Act, which had been co-sponsored by then-Sen. Vance (R-Ohio.). The bipartisan bill ultimately did not garner requisite support for enactment. The bill was designed to pave the way for improvements to industry safety standards.
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Commerce Committee, urged Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to pass the bill during this session of Congress.
Cantwell
“In response to the derailment, Senate Democrats teamed up with now Vice President Vance to author the bipartisan Railway Safety Act. The legislation addressed key NTSB recommendations after its investigation of the East Palestine derailment,” Cantwell wrote Cruz on Feb. 4. “Unfortunately, despite the support of President Trump, only seven Republicans publicly supported the legislation, leaving the bill two votes shy for overcoming the filibuster in the 118th Congress. Failure to pass this legislation has left many of the NTSB’s recommendations unfulfilled.”
House lawmakers representing Ohio reintroduced their version of the rail safety legislation. On Feb. 4, Reps. Emilia Sykes (D) and Mike Rulli (R), unveiled the Reducing Accidents in Locomotives (RAIL) Act. The House legislation did not advance in the most recent session of Congress.
Sykes
As Sykes explained: “Two full years have passed since this tragic and preventable disaster uprooted the lives of the people of East Palestine and neighboring communities, and Congress has not passed legislation to prevent this from happening again in the future. The people of East Palestine deserve better, and I hope the majority does right by the people of this country and prioritizes rail safety.”
Rulli added, “This legislation is about more than just policy — it’s about ensuring the safety of American families, preventing future tragedies and the well-being of our communities.”
David Bell, CEO of CloneOps.ai, discusses the impact of AI on the trucking industry. Tune in above or by going to RoadSigns.ttnews.com.
Cruz and fellow top Republicans tasked with managing policy panels have yet to announce the measure’s reconsideration. Since the start of this session of Congress in January, congressional leaders have indicated they intend to pursue efforts aimed at enhancing supply chain connectivity.
During a visit to East Palestine on the derailment’s anniversary, Vance expressed optimism about the bill’s chances in a GOP-led Congress.
“Certainly, I think that we can say with confidence the president shares my view that we need some common-sense rail safety,” the vice president said Feb. 3. “And, yes, that is something that we’re going to work on over the next couple of years. It’s something that I think that we have a much better shot at, frankly, with Republicans in charge.”
Want more news? Listen to today's daily briefing below or go here for more info:
