Trump picks Fox host, former Wisconsin congressman Sean Duffy for Transportation secretary
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Monday said he's nominating Sean Duffy, a Fox Business host and former Wisconsin Republican congressman, as secretary of the Department of Transportation in his incoming administration.
Duffy, currently a co-host of "The Bottom Line" on Fox Business, served as a congressman for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district in the northwest part of the state from 2011 to 2019, overlapping with the bulk of Trump's presidency.
A father of nine children, the 53-year-old Duffy left his seat in 2019 to care for a newborn daughter with a heart complication. The seat is currently held by U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis.
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Duffy, an ardent Trump defender and a regular Fox News guest while in Congress, started as co-host of his Fox Business show during its debut in January 2023. Duffy's wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, is a host of Fox & Friends Weekend.
"The husband of a wonderful woman, Rachel Campos-Duffy, a STAR on Fox News, and the father of nine incredible children, Sean knows how important it is for families to be able to travel safely, and with peace of mind," Trump said in a statement.
Duffy, a former district attorney in Ashland County, Wisconsin, emerged on the national scene in pop culture before politics as a cast member of the MTV show "Real World" during the 1997 season set in Boston. He was later a cast member on MTV's "Road Rules: All Stars" in 1998 and "Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Battle of the Seasons" in 2002.
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In Congress, Duffy served on the House Financial Services Committee. Duffy was encouraged by Trump to run for Wisconsin governor in 2022, but he ultimately passed.
Trump called Duffy "a tremendous and well-liked public servant," adding that as transportation secretary, Duffy will "prioritize Excellence, Competence, Competitiveness and Beauty" when rebuilding America’s highways and other infrastructure and ensure the nation's ports and dams "serve our Economy without compromising our National Security." He said Duffy will also "make our skies safe again by eliminating DEI for pilots and air traffic controllers."
Under President Joe Biden, the Transportation Department led by Secretary Pete Buttigieg has been working to implement a long list of roadway, bridge, rail and other projects outlined in a $1 trillion infrastructure law Biden signed in 2021.
"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," Trump said. "Importantly, he will greatly elevate the Travel Experience for all Americans!"
Trump has moved quickly to assemble his next administration following his Nov. 5 election victory, with the Duffy pick making his 13th Cabinet nomination.
Duffy's selection marks the second time Trump has pulled directly from Fox News or an affiliated network for a Cabinet post, also tapping Army veteran and Fox News host Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary. Trump nominated Fox News contributor Tulsi Gabbard, a former Hawaii congresswoman, as director of national intelligence, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a onetime Fox News host, as U.S. ambassador to Israel.
Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump nominates ex-congressman Sean Duffy for Transportation secretary