Trump appoints Sean Duffy as transportation secretary

US President-elect, Donald Trump has selected Sean Duffy, a former Representative from Wisconsin and a previous host on Fox Business News, as his nominee for transport secretary.

The president-elect stated that Duffy will focus on “Excellence, competence, competitiveness and beauty when rebuilding America’s highways, tunnels, bridges and airports. He will ensure our ports and dams serve our Economy without compromising our National Security.”

Duffy will oversee an expansive department responsible for various modes of transportation, including aviation, automobiles, railways, and public transit. He will manage a substantial budget of approximately £110 billion and oversee additional funds from President Biden’s 2021 infrastructure initiative, which allocates resources for projects such as electric vehicle charging networks.

“I’m eager to help you usher in a new golden age of transportation,” Duffy announced on social media.

The president-elect aims to reverse President Biden’s car emissions regulations as a priority upon assuming office. Biden’s current policy mandates automobile manufacturers to reduce emissions by 50% between 2026 and 2032, alongside incentives for producing more electric vehicles.

Duffy is expected to confront significant challenges in his role. Although fatalities from traffic collisions have recently declined, they remain markedly higher than pre-COVID-19 levels, with the current rate being the highest since 2008, excluding the pandemic years. Another pressing issue will be addressing lobbying from companies like Tesla, which advocate for more relaxed guidelines on autonomous vehicles.

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