President-elect Donald Trump stated Monday he’s naming former Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy as his nominee for transportation secretary, as he continues to roll out picks for his Cupboard.
Duffy is a former actuality TV star who was one among Trump’s most seen defenders on cable information — a major concern for the media-focused president-elect. Duffy served within the Home for almost 9 years, was a member of the Monetary Companies Committee and chairman of the subcommittee on insurance coverage and housing. He left Congress in 2019, and is co-host of “The Backside Line” on Fox Enterprise.
In his announcement, Trump famous that Duffy is married to a Fox Information host, calling him “the husband of a beautiful lady, Rachel Campos-Duffy, a STAR on Fox Information.”
Duffy is thus far the second Fox-affiliated tv host that Trump has named to his Cupboard. Trump final week introduced his selection of Fox Information host Pete Hegseth to function his protection secretary.
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Trump stated Duffy would use his expertise and relationships constructed over time in Congress “to take care of and rebuild our Nation’s Infrastructure, and fulfill our Mission of ushering in The Golden Age of Journey, specializing in Security, Effectivity, and Innovation. Importantly, he’ll enormously elevate the Journey Expertise for all People!”
Duffy in 2022 dominated out a run for Wisconsin governor regardless of pleas from Trump to make a bid, saying he wanted to take care of his 9 kids, together with his youngest youngster who had a coronary heart situation.
He’s a former lumberjack athlete and frequent Fox Information contributor. He was featured on MTV’s “The Actual World: Boston” in 1997. He met his spouse on the set of MTV’s “Street Guidelines: All Stars” in 1998.
A actuality tv background earlier than politics is just not uncommon in Trump’s world. The previous president launched his political profession after his hit actuality present, “The Apprentice.”
Duffy, after his time on actuality tv, labored as a particular prosecutor and Ashland County district lawyer. He gained election to Congress as a part of a tea social gathering wave in 2010.
When he first ran for workplace, Duffy was largely thought of an underdog however attracted nationwide consideration for his marketing campaign adverts, by which he donned a crimson flannel shirt and chopped timber. He instructed voters he got here from a “lengthy line of lumberjacks” and would convey his axe to Washington.
He served till resigning in 2019.
The Transportation Division oversees the nation’s complicated transportation system, together with pipelines, railroads, vehicles, vans, the airways and mass transit methods in addition to federal funding for highways.
If confirmed, Duffy would take over at a time of great change, particularly on the nation’s highways. Visitors deaths stay close to file highs at a time when new applied sciences are being launched that might assist make the roads safer. A number of firms are deploying autonomous robotaxis and even driverless semis with no particular federal laws. And the nascent transfer from gasoline to electrical autos presents security issues of its personal, particularly with battery fires that may be troublesome to extinguish.
The division consists of the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration, which regulates automakers, together with Elon Musk’s Tesla. The division units gasoline economic system requirements for vehicles and vans and regulates the airline trade by the Federal Aviation Administration, which is grappling with a scarcity of air site visitors controllers to make sure the secure and orderly move of air journey.
Nicholas Calio, president and CEO of Airways for America, stated the affiliation was “thrilled” by the selection of Duffy.
“Congressman Duffy has a confirmed monitor file for getting issues achieved, and we’re desperate to collaborate with him on key points impacting the U.S. airline trade,” Calio stated.
Trump has criticized electrical autos as costly and unreliable and referred to as President Joe Biden’s coverage to advertise them “lunacy. He additionally has stated EV manufacturing will destroy auto trade jobs and has falsely claimed that battery-powered vehicles do not work in chilly climate and are unable to journey lengthy distances.
Trump has softened his rhetoric about electrical autos in latest months after Musk endorsed him and campaigned closely for his election.
Even so, trade officers anticipate Trump to attempt to sluggish a shift to electrical vehicles, and a tax credit score for EV purchases is reportedly amongst these the Trump administration could search to eradicate subsequent yr.
Trump, in his assertion, stated Duffy would “prioritize Excellence, Competence, Competitiveness and Magnificence when rebuilding America’s highways, tunnels, bridges and airports.” Trump, as he campaigned for the White Home, would typically complain in regards to the state of air journey particularly, lamenting that the nation’s “once-revered airports” are a “soiled, crowded mess.”
Duffy, Trump stated Monday, “will make our skies secure once more by eliminating DEI for pilots and air site visitors controllers.” DEI refers to “variety, fairness and inclusion” packages.
