President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, sailed through a convivial Senate nomination hearing Wednesday, promising to work with members on both sides of the aisle.
Members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation questioned Duffy on issues including autonomous and electric vehicles, Amtrak and passenger rail projects, traffic safety, new transportation technologies and streamlining environmental reviews.
In Duffy’s opening remarks, he said the U.S. Department of Transportation is a top priority for the incoming president. “He asked me to focus on big, durable projects that connect our country and people,” Duffy said. “If confirmed, I will work to reduce the red tape that slows critical infrastructure projects, ensuring funds are spent efficiently.”
Questioned about electric vehicles, Duffy responded, “We shouldn't be forced to buy cars that Washington wants. We should be able to buy the cars that we want, and I think there's room in this space for electric vehicles and gas-powered vehicles.”
Duffy was more enthusiastic about autonomous vehicles. “Right now, we have a patchwork of laws from state to state. I believe there has to be a federal law by which all of these innovators can abide by.” He stressed the importance of safety, but said that “we want to give a wide runway for these companies and innovators to create products that are going to bring us this new technology.”
Traffic safety, Duffy said, was “close to home” for him, explaining that his wife survived a head-on crash. He vowed to prioritize road safety, including for pedestrians, bicyclists and scooter users.
Senators questioned Duffy about passenger rail, Amtrak and the Gateway project to rehabilitate the existing Hudson River rail tunnels and build two additional tunnels for Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains. The House looked to reduce funding for Amtrak in its proposed fiscal year 2025 appropriations bill, but the Senate Committee on Appropriations reversed that move and added funds to the railroad’s budget.
“This committee has spoken loudly about Amtrak and rail in their home communities, and so I'm going to continue to work with the committee and abide by the law, enforce the law and implement the law as passed by this body,” said Duffy.
Asked if he would continue funding the $16 billion Gateway project, which was stalled during Trump’s first presidency, Duffy said, “I want to look at what funding has gone out, but I imagine those good projects that are underway, we would continue.” The Department of Transportation is currently operating under a continuing resolution that funds the federal government at fiscal 2024 levels through March 14.
Some observers believe the Trump administration could reduce rail funding from the 2021 infrastructure law. Duffy denied he would do so. “I commit to implementing the law,” he told the Senate panel.
Duffy represented Wisconsin’s 7th District in Congress from 2011 to 2019. He joined Fox News in 2020 as a contributor and later served as co-host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Following background checks and a vote by the Senate committee to recommend Duffy to the full Senate, he may be confirmed by a majority vote.
The OneRail Coalition, whose members include Amtrak, labor unions and the Rail Passengers Association, endorsed Duffy’s nomination Wednesday. The Governors Highway Safety Association and the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association have also endorsed Duffy. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said he strongly supports Duffy’s nomination in a Jan. 15 statement.
Duffy told the Senate committee yesterday, “Together with President Trump, this committee and the entire DOT team, we will usher in a golden age of travel.”
