Transportation pick Duffy wins full approval from Senate panel, awaits final confirmation

Grant Schwab, The Detroit News on Jan 22, 2025

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WASHINGTON — A key Senate panel unanimously voted Wednesday to advance Sean Duffy's nomination to lead the U.S. Department of Transportation.

President Donald Trump tapped the former Republican Wisconsin congressman to lead the agency with wide-ranging responsibilities related to road safety, vehicle emissions, aviation and more.

Duffy previously breezed through questioning from the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation during a Jan. 15 hearing that featured the nominee's family in the audience behind him and friendly, bipartisan support from the senators on the panel.

During that hearing, Duffy said he wants to leave behind a legacy of safety if confirmed.

"Every year, 40,000 Americans lose their lives in roadway accidents," Duffy said during open remarks that day.

"This is close to home for me because my wife survived a deadly head-on car crash, which has profoundly reshaped her life," he added. "If confirmed, I'll prioritize road safety and assuring lives and families aren't forever changed by preventable accidents."

Duffy, a lawyer, was elected five times to represent Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District before resigning in 2019 to care for a daughter born with health issues. Before entering politics and law, Duffy was a contestant on the MTV reality television program "The Real World." He most recently worked as a host on Fox News.

The procedural vote Wednesday passed by a count of 28-0. The full body of the U.S. Senate still needs to vote on Duffy's confirmation, though it is widely expected he will continue to receive support from both sides of the aisle.

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