The Senate confirmed Sean Duffy as the secretary of transportation in a 77 to 22 vote on Tuesday.
Over half of Senate Democrats joined Republicans to push the former Republican Congressman through the vote, marking the highest number of “yea” votes a cabinet appointee has received since the Senate unanimously voted Marco Rubio as Secretary of State on Jan 20.
Confirmed, 77-22: Confirmation of Executive Calendar #6 Sean Duffy to be Secretary of @USDOT.
— Senate Cloakroom (@SenateCloakroom) January 28, 2025
Many Senators praised Duffy’s resume, finding him “highly qualified” for the position, citing his track record while he represented Wisconsin’s 7th District from 2011 to 2019.
During his eight years in government, Duffy tackled transportation issues across Wisconsin. Two of his largest projects involved restoring the structurally unsound St. Croix Crossing bridge, which lies between Wisconsin and Minnesota, and serving as the co-chair for the Great Lakes Task Force where he focused on improving port infrastructure.
Duffy is also a lawyer and co-hosts the Fox Business show “The Bottom Line.”
The Senate Commerce Committee, overseeing commerce, science and transportation, led by Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, voted unanimously for Duffy to move from the committee to his confirmation vote.
“As a father of nine, Congressman Duffy knows better than most the truth of President-elect Trump’s comment on how important it is for families to be able to travel safely, and with peace of mind,” said Sen. Cruz. “Congressman Duffy will promote a leaner, more efficient [Department of Transportation] DOT, eliminating onerous regulations while responsibly investing in the nation’s infrastructure and ensuring safety.”
Democratic Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin said the vote was not “a matter of right or left” but rather what was best for all constituents.
“Today, the St. Croix Crossing, which opened in 2017, has shortened travel times, reduced traffic congestion, and, most importantly, improved safety. But at the end of the day, I am confident that Sean is the right person for this job in this coming, upcoming administration,” said Sen. Baldwin. “I believe he will help deliver for Wisconsin families, businesses, and workers, and I expect that he will work through this committee and both sides of the aisle to improve our infrastructure and address the challenges that arise in the years ahead.”
Republican Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan said he supports Duffy just as strongly as he supported former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, former President Joe Biden’s pick for the role.
“Mr. Duffy, I believe you are very highly qualified to be the Secretary. I certainly plan on supporting you. You are certainly as qualified as the current Secretary of Transportation, who I supported four years ago,” said Sen. Sullivan. “So I’m hoping all of my colleagues on this committee, everybody will support Mr. Duffy.”
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