Donald Trump’s choice to lead the U.S. Transportation Department vowed to ensure Boeing Co. implements a plan to bolster its safety and manufacturing practices if confirmed for the role. “Boeing is a national security issue. Boeing is the largest exporter of American product,” Transportation Secretary nominee Sean Duffy told members of the Senate Commerce Committee on January 15. “In one of my meetings, someone said they need ‘tough love,’ which is what they do need.”
The former Fox News personality and Wisconsin congressman also said he would “absolutely” meet with the relatives of those who died in two Boeing Co. 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019.
If confirmed as Transportation Secretary, Duffy will lead a department whose regulators have bolstered scrutiny of commercial aviation in the wake of a near-catastrophe in which a panel blew off an airborne 737 Max jetliner last year and a series of flight safety incidents at major airlines.
Duffy said he would work with Congress and the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure robust oversight of Boeing and other aerospace manufacturers. Duffy said he’d push for a stronger safety management culture at Boeing if that will help turn the company around, and agreed that regulators should listen to whistleblowers on the ground.
“Obviously there’s a lot more work to do,” Duffy said. “If this is part of the missing link to make sure we get a better safety record at Boeing, I’m on board.”
Navigating Priorities
Duffy also told lawmakers he’d work to cut red tape slowing big infrastructure projects if confirmed, saying that Trump has told him that the department is a “top priority.” The department will steer billions of dollars in federal infrastructure funds as well as Trump’s policy agenda for the aviation, automotive and rail industries.
Duffy’s new job would heavily overlap with Elon Musk’s empire, requiring him to navigate the priorities of an outspoken billionaire who spent millions to elect Trump and runs companies with operations that fall under the agency’s jurisdiction. Tesla Inc., Musk’s car company, and SpaceX, Musk’s rocket company, are regulated by agencies within the department that have frequently drawn their CEO’s ire. Members of Trump’s transition team are also eyeing a federal framework for self-driving cars — something the Tesla CEO and Trump adviser called for prior to the election.
Duffy echoed Musk’s sentiment during his confirmation hearing, saying he wants to work on “clear rules” for autonomous vehicles to ensure U.S. leadership in the technology.Musk also now co-leads an advisory body convened by Trump charged with rooting out government waste. Even before Trump takes office, Musk and co-lead Vivek Ramaswamy have begun collecting examples of federal regulations to be eliminated.
In his prepared remarks, Duffy said he’ll prioritize regulations that balance safety and innovation as the department grapples with new technologies such as electric air-taxis, drones, self-driving cars and commercial space launches. The FAA recently published final rules for the nascent air taxi industry that clear the way for companies like Joby Aviation Inc. and Archer Aviation Inc. to eventually begin commercial operations.
The Wisconsin native gained a public profile in the late 1990s by appearing on MTV reality shows including The Real World: Boston. He later worked as district attorney for Ashland County, Wisconsin, before he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served from 2011 to 2019.
During his time in Congress, Duffy was a supporter of Trump’s immigration policies, including a controversial 2017 travel ban barring entry to people from several majority-Muslim countries. He also introduced legislation in 2019 to expand Trump’s tariff powers.
