President-elect Donald Trump announced on Monday that he has chosen former congressman and recent Fox Business co-host Sean Duffy to be the next Secretary of the Department of Transportation.
Duffy, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019, represented Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District. He most recently co-hosted *The Bottom Line* on Fox Business, after joining Fox News as a contributor in 2020.
A network spokesperson confirmed to CNN that Duffy's final day as a Fox News employee was Monday. He made his last appearance on Fox Business on Wednesday, and later that week, he interviewed for the position of transportation secretary, according to a source.
In a statement, Trump praised Sean Duffy as a “tremendous and well-liked public servant,” highlighting his reputation as “a respected voice and communicator in the Republican Conference” during his tenure in Congress.
“Duffy will prioritize Excellence, Competence, Competitiveness, and Beauty as he works to rebuild America’s highways, tunnels, bridges, and airports. He will ensure our ports and dams support our economy without compromising national security, and he will make our skies safe again by eliminating DEI for pilots and air traffic controllers,” Trump said.
While Duffy’s legislative career included serving as chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and as a member of the House Committee on Financial Services, he has limited experience in transportation policy.
If confirmed by the Senate, Duffy would oversee infrastructure projects involving companies led by Elon Musk, a close Trump ally. Musk's ventures have billions of dollars in federal contracts, including with the Department of Transportation, and Musk has been tapped by Trump to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency.
The new head of the Department of Transportation will face a range of challenges, particularly in aviation safety, including ongoing quality control and manufacturing issues with Boeing. Other pressing matters likely to land on his desk include potential airline labor strikes and climate-focused initiatives, such as the expansion of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.
Founded in 1966, the Department of Transportation employs nearly 55,000 people and plays a critical role in overseeing the safety, sustainability, and efficiency of the nation’s transportation systems.
Duffy would succeed Pete Buttigieg, who has led the department since February 2021. During the Trump administration, Elaine Chao served as transportation secretary until her resignation following the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.
Before his political career, Duffy gained national attention as a cast member on MTV’s *The Real World: Boston* in 1997. He later competed on *Road Rules: All Stars*, where he met Rachel Campos, a cast member from *The Real World: San Francisco* who would become his wife. Campos-Duffy is now the co-host of *Fox & Friends Weekend* and previously worked alongside Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick for defense secretary.
Duffy resigned from his congressional seat in 2019, citing a desire to spend more time with his family following complications in his wife’s pregnancy with their ninth child.
During his time in Congress, Duffy introduced a bill aimed at expanding Trump’s presidential powers to impose tariffs, a move that earned praise from the former president, though the bill was dismissed by fellow Republicans at the time.
Prior to entering politics, Duffy served as district attorney for Ashland County, Wisconsin, from 2002 to 2008. He also had a career as a professional lumberjack athlete and served as a color commentator for ESPN.
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