Sean Duffy: The Wrong Choice for America’s Transportation Safety

The recent plane and helicopter crash in Washington, D.C., underscored the urgent need for experienced leadership at the Department of Transportation. Instead, we have Sean Duffy—an airline industry lobbyist, former Fox Business host, and Tea Party Congressman with no meaningful background in transportation. His response to the tragedy was a dismissive call for deregulation and vague platitudes about needing “the best and the brightest” in safety roles. Meanwhile, Trump used the moment to push baseless claims that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were to blame. Rather than addressing real concerns—like air traffic control staffing shortages or procedural failures—both Duffy and Trump turned a preventable crisis into a political talking point. Their reactions reveal exactly why Duffy was chosen: not for his expertise, but for his commitment to a reckless, hands-off approach that puts corporate interests over public safety.

A Lobbyist First, a Transportation Leader Never

Duffy’s ties to the airline industry run deep. In 2020, he was hired to lobby for The Partnership for Open and Fair Skies—a coalition representing major airlines like American, Delta, and United. The same airlines that, just months ago, sued the Biden administration to block new rules protecting passengers from surprise junk fees. And they’re thrilled about his nomination.

Why wouldn’t they be? Airlines for America, the lobbying arm of major U.S. airlines, wasted no time congratulating Duffy, eager to work with someone who will put corporate profits ahead of consumer protections. Let’s not forget: these are the same airlines that took over $40 billion in taxpayer-funded COVID-19 aid and then spent millions lobbying against regulations meant to stop them from nickel-and-diming passengers.

Duffy’s Blind Faith in Market Forces Over Passenger Safety

Duffy’s record makes it clear where his loyalties lie. When Southwest Airlines had its infamous 2022 holiday meltdown—stranding over two million passengers—then-DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg vowed to hold them accountable. Duffy, on the other hand, attacked Buttigieg and argued that the free market alone would fix the crisis.

It didn’t. Southwest had prioritized stock buybacks and executive compensation over investing in the infrastructure that could have prevented the disaster. The DOT later fined Southwest $140 million for consumer protection violations. Duffy, however, remained a staunch defender of corporate negligence, a pattern we should expect to see repeated as he takes control of the department.

A Disaster Waiting to Happen

Transportation safety isn’t just about air travel. It’s about ensuring that planes, trains, highways, and public transit systems operate safely and efficiently for millions of Americans. That requires leadership with experience and a commitment to oversight—not a corporate lackey who sees regulation as an inconvenience.

With Duffy at the helm of the DOT, passengers should brace for fewer protections, weaker enforcement, and an agency that serves as an extension of the airline lobby rather than a watchdog for public safety. His response to the recent D.C. crash is just a preview of what’s to come: ideological rigidity, deregulation, and a disregard for the very people the department is supposed to protect.

America deserves a DOT Secretary who prioritizes safety over political dogma. Sean Duffy is not that person. And if the Senate truly cares about transportation safety, they should have never confirmed him in the first place.