Former Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy’s confirmation hearing to be the next leader of the DOT

"The human spirit is an indestructible force. It can be bent, but never broken."

by pacetulsa

Donald Trump has announced Sean Duffy as his pick for the next Secretary of Transportation, succeeding Pete Buttigieg.

The selection has garnered mixed reactions. Duffy, a former Wisconsin Congressman and current Fox News host, co-hosts “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business.

Chris Spear, the President and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, praised Duffy’s appointment in a statement, noting his focus on issues impacting the trucking industry and his support for pro-trucking policies during his eight years in Congress.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 31: Sean Duffy hosts “The Bottom Line with Dagen and Duffy” at Fox Business Network Studios on October 31, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)

Duffy has a controversial history regarding LGBTQ+ rights. In two of his three terms in Congress, he earned a score of zero from LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations. His voting record shows a consistent alignment with conservative policies that oppose LGBTQ+ rights. Duffy is a vocal opponent of marriage equality and previously introduced legislation aimed at defining marriage strictly as between one man and one woman. He also abstained from voting on the Equality Act, which aims to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and voted in favor of Trump’s military ban on transgender service members.

One of Duffy’s most controversial actions was his proposal to ban fetal genetic testing that could determine sexual orientation, arguing that it was necessary to “protect the lives of unborn gay children,” despite a lack of evidence for the existence of a “gay gene.”

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) (L) introduces Sean Duffy (R), U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Transportation, before a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee confirmation hearing in the Russell Senate Office Building on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. Duffy, who served three terms as the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin’s seventh congressional district, was nominated by President-elect Trump and has bipartisan support in the Senate.
Samuel Corum / Getty Images

Spear expressed optimism about Duffy’s nomination, stating, “He is an exceptional choice to lead the Department of Transportation, and we congratulate him on his nomination and look forward to working with him in this role.”

In 2023, Duffy presented a “Patriot Award” on behalf of Fox Nation to the founders of Moms for Liberty, a group known for advocating against LGBTQ+ issues and promoting book bans in schools. Duffy praised the organization, stating, “Over the past few years, parents like us have lost confidence in what our kids are learning in the classroom until one organization became a beacon of hope for the rest of us.”

The family of Sean Duffy, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Transportation, sits behind him as he testifies before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee during his confirmation hearing in the Russell Senate Office Building on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. Duffy, who served three terms as a Republican Representative for Wisconsin, has bipartisan support in the Senate.
Samuel Corum / Getty Images

It remains unclear how Duffy’s antagonism toward the LGBTQ+ community will impact his responsibilities as Secretary of Transportation, but his far-right views mark a significant shift from his predecessor.

Pete Buttigieg, US secretary of transportation, speaks during a news conference in Long Beach, California, US, on Thursday, July 18, 2024. The Pier B on-dock rail project, which is expected to be the largest rail facility of any port in the US, will serve the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Photographer: Tim Rue/Bloomberg via Getty Images

To readWhile Buttigieg, an openly gay father of two, championed the Biden administration’s clean energy initiatives, Duffy has been a vocal opponent of electric vehicles, which appears to be a key factor in his appointment.

Some speculate that Trump’s selection of Duffy could initiate a string of exasperating policy changes, considering Buttigieg’s incisive appearances on Fox News, which earned him the nickname “Slayer Pete.”