President-elect Donald Trump on Monday named former congressman and Fox Business host Sean Duffy as his pick for transportation secretary in the next administration.
Duffy is the second Fox host Trump has tapped for a Cabinet post after he said last week that he would nominate Fox News personality Pete Hegseth to lead the Defense Department. Hegseth left Fox News after Trump's announcement.
In a statement announcing him, Trump described Duffy, R-Wis., as "a tremendous and well-liked public servant."
"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.
Trump said Duffy would use his experience 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!”
Duffy “will make our skies safe again by eliminating DEI for pilots and air traffic controllers,” Trump added, referring to “diversity, equity and inclusion” programs.
In his own statement on X, Duffy responded by saying: "Thank you, Mr. President. I’m eager to help you usher in a new golden age of transportation."
The post requires Senate confirmation. The Transportation Department consists of roughly 58,000 workers, according to data from the Office of Personnel Management.
In a statement Monday, Fox praised Duffy for providing "valuable insights and analysis" co-hosting "The Bottom Line" and said he was parting ways with Fox News Media "effective today."
Duffy, 53, served in the House from 2011 to 2019. He was a member of the Financial Services Committee and chairman of a subcommittee on oversight and investigations. He left Congress in September 2019 after he said he learned that his child would be born with a heart condition.
Before he was elected to the House, Duffy was special prosecutor in Ashland, Wisconsin, and later district attorney for Ashland County.
Duffy first gained attention when he appeared on "The Real World: Boston," a reality TV series on MTV, in 1997. He is married to Rachel Campos-Duffy, who also starred in the "Real World" series, in 1994.
