Trump pick for DOT head Duffy has empty transportation resume

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump announced Monday night that he will nominate former Wisconsin congressman and current Fox News contributor Sean Duffy to head the Transportation Department.

If confirmed by the Senate, Duffy would head an agenda that Trump asserted will ensure the nation’s ports and dams “serve our Economy without compromising our National Security.”

“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. Importantly, he will greatly elevate the Travel Experience for all Americans!” Trump wrote in a statement.

Duffy’s experience does not include much in the way of transportation. He sat on the House Financial Services Committee during his time in Congress and any input on transportation was confined to issues local to Wisconsin, such as offering an amendment to a surface transportation bill in 2015 to raise the weight limit for logging trucks in the state.

As Transportation secretary, Duffy would be instrumental in negotiations for the next surface transportation reauthorization bill, which was greatly expanded under the Biden administration to include $550 billion in new spending, becoming the 2021 infrastructure law. Duffy would have discretion over the remaining infrastructure funds from the law, which expires in 2026.

Airports Council International-North America, an industry organization, said in a statement the group is looking forward to working with Duffy on reducing regulatory burdens and securing funding necessary for airport infrastructure maintenance.

“During his time in Congress, Sean was a respected voice and communicator in the Republican Conference, advocating for Fiscal Responsibility, Economic Growth, and Rural Development,” Trump said in a statement. “Admired across the aisle, Sean worked with Democrats to clear extensive Legislative hurdles to build the largest road and bridge project in Minnesota History.”

Duffy left Congress in 2019 after serving four terms. He’s now a co-host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business, as well as a contributor on Fox News.

Prior to a stint in Congress, Duffy was a cast member on reality TV show “The Real World: Boston” in 1997, with follow-up stints on later seasons. After that, Duffy served as district attorney of Ashland County, Wis.