Former U.S. Congressman Sean Duffy. (Photo Credit: Kristie Boyd, U.S. House Office of Photography/House Creative Services)
Update: January 29, 2025, at 9:51 a.m. ET
Sean Duffy was officially sworn in as the 20th Secretary of
the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) on Tuesday. Secretary
Duffy was administered the oath of office by U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Clarence Thomas at the U.S. Supreme Court and was joined by his family.
U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman
issued the following statement on the Senate’s confirmation of Sean Duffy as
Transportation Secretary:
“Former Congressman Sean Duffy will bring strong leadership
to the Department of Transportation, an agency that serves a critical role in
facilitating travel. There is a significant opportunity ahead to strengthen and
improve the travel process by modernizing our nation’s travel infrastructure.
U.S. Travel looks forward to partnering with Secretary Duffy and the DOT to, as
he put it in his confirmation hearing, ‘usher in a golden age of travel.’”
The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) issued the
following statement in support of newly confirmed U.S. Department of
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy:
“Congratulations to Sean Duffy on his confirmation to serve
as Secretary of the Department of Transportation,” said Rosanna Maietta,
President & CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. “We are
confident that Secretary Duffy’s leadership will support the enhancement of our
nation’s infrastructure, improving accessibility and mobility for business and
leisure travelers alike.
The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) congratulates
former Representative Sean Duffy on his Senate confirmation as the next
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. This achievement is a
testament to his dedication to transportation safety and public service.
ASTA shares the Administration’s vision for fewer government
regulations which will in turn allow businesses of all sizes to thrive. Travel
agencies are regulated by the DOT as sellers of air tickets, and in 2023, sold
735,000 airline tickets per day, totaling more than $95 billion. As an integral
part of the travel industry, ASTA and its advisors offer support to Secretary
Duffy as he gets up to speed on often complex and nuanced policies affecting
travel.
Original Text
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has unanimously approved Sean Duffy as the nominee to head the Department of Transportation (DOT) under the new Trump administration.
The 28-0 vote was cast on January 22, paving the way for Duffy's nomination to be presented before the full U.S. Senate for formal confirmation, where approval is anticipated.
Duffy, a Republican from Wisconsin, represented his state in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019. Following his time in office, Duffy transitioned to broadcasting and currently serves as the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business, where he provides economic commentary and analysis.
According to The Hill, Duffy outlined his priorities as the potential head of the DOT during his last week’s Senate hearing, which include enhancing transportation safety, rectifying the shortage of air traffic controllers and working to reestablish the public’s confidence in Boeing after the major aircraft manufacturer was hit with several scandals in 2024.
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