Stakeholders Praise Trump USDOT Leader Nominee Sean Duffy
[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.]
Transportation stakeholders are lining up to support President-elect Donald Trump’s selection to lead the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Trump on Nov. 18 announced that former Republican Rep. Sean Duffy would be his nominee to become the nation’s top transportation officer.
Duffy was elected in 2010 to represent his district in Wisconsin in the U.S. House of Representatives. During just shy of a decade in Congress, he was a member of the Financial Services Committee. After Congress, he became a contributor and host on Fox News Media programs. Earlier, Duffy was featured in reality television programs on MTV.
“Sean will use his experience and the relationships he has built over many years in Congress to maintain and rebuild our nation’s infrastructure, and fulfill our mission of ushering in the golden age of travel, focusing on safety, efficiency and innovation,” the president-elect said in a statement.
Buttigieg
If confirmed next year by a Republican-led Senate, Duffy would succeed Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
As the department’s next secretary, Duffy would be tasked with overseeing safety initiatives designed to reduce highway fatalities. DOT personnel also are managing the implementation of 2021’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, commonly called the bipartisan infrastructure law. Next year, Congress is expected to begin a comprehensive update of the law’s surface transportation component.
During his time in the House, @SeanDuffyWI was focused on issues facing our industry and supported pro-trucking policies to strengthen the supply chain and our ability to keep the nation’s goods moving safely and efficiently. He is an exceptional choice to lead USDOT, and we… — American Trucking (@TRUCKINGdotORG) November 19, 2024
In recent years, DOT agencies have also responded to aviation and rail safety crises.
American Trucking Associations, as well as groups representing the highway construction sector and state transportation agencies, praised the nominee.
Spear
“During his time in the House, Sean Duffy was focused on issues facing our industry and supported pro-trucking policies to strengthen the supply chain and our ability to keep the nation’s goods moving safely and efficiently,” ATA President Chris Spear said. “Roads and bridges are our shop floor. We know [former Rep.] Duffy understands that and the opportunity now before us to improve our transportation network by reducing congestion, investing in truck parking, enhancing highway safety and supporting the development of innovative technologies. He is an exceptional choice to lead the Department of Transportation, and we congratulate him on his nomination and look forward to working with him in this role.”
A major concern for ATA has been federal and state efforts regarding stricter emissions standards. In particular, ATA and other freight groups have consistently pushed back on timelines to accelerate adoption of zero-emission vehicles, notably those stemming from the California Air Resources Board. ATA recently called on heavy-duty truck and engine manufacturers to abandon an agreement made specifically with California regulators.
“By strong-arming our industry into unachievable targets and timelines void of operational and economic reality, the California Air Resources Board’s mad dash to zero has set our industry up for failure, sowing the seeds of another supply chain crisis,” Spear wrote to truck and engine makers Nov. 20. “California’s ideological approach has cratered the truck market; sales are down by over 50% compared to last year. Availability of California-certified diesel engines are hard to come by and expensive, rationed due to zero-emission truck sales requirements.”
“As a former member of Congress, Sean Duffy understands how to navigate the political landscape in Washington to get things done, something that we will need in the next leader of the U.S. Department of Transportation as we begin the process of reauthorizing the federal surface transportation programs,” said Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. “Every state department of transportation in the country is currently hard at work improving safety and quality of life in their communities one project at a time. This is made possible through the federal-state partnership that has existed for over 100 years. We look forward to working with the secretary-designee as well as the Trump administration to ensure the continued delivery of a safe, efficient, multimodal transportation system for all.”
Trump
American Road and Transportation Builders Association President and CEO Dave Bauer also praised Trump’s DOT pick. As he put it, “If confirmed, Rep. Duffy will be leading the Department of Transportation at a critical time, including continued deployment of record levels of federal highway, public transportation and airport infrastructure investments, and reauthorization of the surface transportation programs scheduled for 2026.
“While in Congress, Rep. Duffy worked on a number of transportation issues important to his state and region. In many of his public statements and actions, he reaffirmed the effectiveness of bipartisanship to ensure continued federal investments and getting projects done.”
Want more news? Listen to today's daily briefing below or go here for more info:
