January 23, 2025

By Lane Kimble

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former Wisconsin Congressman Sean Duffy easily cruised through a Senate committee vote this week, securing unanimous bipartisan approval to serve as the next Transportation Secretary.

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee voted 28-0 to send Duffy’s confirmation to the full Senate.

Wednesday’s vote followed a three-hour hearing the previous week where Duffy spoke to his bona fides for serving as President Trump’s transportation secretary, answering dozens of questions from lawmakers while his family watched.

“Duffy will take the helm of a department with more than 55,000 employees, leading the administration’s efforts to make it easier and faster for families, commuters, truckers, and fliers to get around without running into traffic, potholes or delays,” committee chairman Sen. Ted Cruz said.  “To quote Senator Baldwin at his hearing last week, quote, ‘Sean is the right person for this job.’

“I hope we can agree Mr. Duffy is the kind of consensus-driven leader we need to oversee the Department of Transportation.”

“President Trump is a builder,” Duffy said during his hearing last week.  “He has told me that this department is a top priority for him and he wants to invest in rebuilding our nation’s crumbling infrastructure,” he explained. “He asked me to focus on big, durable projects that connect our country and people.”

Committee member Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) noted she had fond memories of working across the aisle with Duffy to secure funding for the St. Croix River Crossing Bridge.

“I thought he did a good job at his hearing, I told him that, but I think it’s really important with his words and with this vote that he follow through on that bipartisan work,” Klobuchar said.  “To work with members about projects in their district to make sure that the funding gets completed from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill.”

The Senate has yet to schedule a full vote on Duffy’s nomination.