5 hours ago
New transportation secretary Sean Duffy faces his first crisis as an Army helicopter collides with an American Airlines jet at Reagan Airport, crashing into the Potomac River. All onboard are feared dead.
Transportation secretary Sean Duffy speaks during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington Airport (AP Photo)
UPDATED: Jan 31, 2025 00:32 IST
Sean Duffy, the newly appointed transportation secretary, faced his first major crisis just hours after being sworn in. Confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday, Duffy quickly became the federal government’s public face in responding to a deadly plane crash at Reagan Airport, near Washington, D.C.
On Wednesday night, an Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members as the plane was landing. All onboard are feared dead, marking what could be the deadliest U.S. air disaster in decades.
Here are some things to know about Duffy:
Former reality TV star, lumberjack and Congressman from Wisconsin
A former Republican congressman from Wisconsin, Duffy’s résumé includes stints as a lumberjack athlete, reality TV star, prosecutor and Fox News host.
He was featured on MTV’s “The Real World: Boston” in 1997 and met his wife, “Fox & Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy, on the set of MTV’s “Road Rules: All Stars” in 1998.
Duffy later worked as a special prosecutor and the district attorney of Ashland County in northern Wisconsin. He won election to Congress as part of the tea party wave in 2010.
An underdog who served nine years
When he first ran for Congress, Duffy was considered an underdog. But he attracted national attention with his campaign ads, which featured him dramatically chopping wood while donning a red flannel shirt. He told voters he came from a “long line of lumberjacks” and would bring his axe to Washington.
Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years. He was member of the Financial Services Committee and chair of the subcommittee on insurance and housing.
Fox News defender
After leaving Congress in 2019, citing the need to care for his growing family, Duffy became a contributor to Fox News and one of Trump’s most visible defenders on cable television. He served as co-host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business before being picked for the new administration.
He was one of several Fox personalities that Trump chose to fill his Cabinet, including Pete Hegseth, the new defense secretary.
A father to nine
Duffy has nine children, the youngest of whom was born with a heart condition.
In announcing his pick, Trump noted that “Sean knows how important it is for families to be able to travel safely, and with peace of mind.”
A sprawling agency
The Transportation Department oversees the nation’s complex and aging transportation system, including its highways, railroads and airspace. It sets safety standards for trains, cars and trucks.
The department regulates the airline industry through the Federal Aviation Administration, which has been grappling with a shortage of air traffic controllers. The agency also includes the Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which regulates automakers and sets fuel economy standards for cars and trucks.
In his first act after his swearing-in, Duffy rolled back fuel mileage standards put in place by the Biden administration.
(Source: AP)
Published By:
indiatodayglobal
Published On:
Jan 31, 2025
