The U.S. Senate has approved the nomination of Sean Duffy as secretary of the Department of Transportation.
The 77-22 confirmation vote on Tuesday springs the former Wisconsin congressman into the helm of a department overseeing agencies that fund transportation infrastructure projects and regulate safety in the automotive, aviation, rail and trucking industries.
“Throughout his congressional service, Secretary Duffy was a steadfast supporter of hardworking truckers and the work that they do to deliver the nation’s freight,” American Trucking Associations CEO and President Chris Spear said in a statement. “We look forward to building on our partnership with Secretary Duffy in the years ahead to modernize our infrastructure and increase the resiliency of our supply chain.”
Duffy will be tasked with fulfilling President Donald Trump’s policy goals that have blasted government overreach and electric vehicle regulations. Returning to the White House, the president ordered an end to EV mandates as well as Biden-era funding for electric charging stations.
The ATA wasn’t alone in its support for the department secretary pick.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association applauded the confirmation, noting the importance of the position in advancing small business transportation priorities such as increasing truck parking, fighting freight fraud and rolling back burdensome, unnecessary regulations, President Todd Spencer said in a statement.
Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat, spoke in support of Duffy’s confirmation in anticipation of the vote. She said she expects he will deliver similar landmark bipartisan projects such as the St. Croix Crossing bridge connecting Wisconsin and Minnesota, which improved safety and reduced congestion.
The span opened in 2017, indirectly replacing a bridge from 1931 that was congested and deteriorating. The project took decades to complete due to controversy over historic preservation, environmental reviews and development impacts, according to the Federal Highway Administration.
“This was a decades-long battle, which resulted in ... a significant bipartisan win for our state and our region,” Baldwin said. “It was not a matter of right or left, just what was good for our constituents, our economy and our state."
