The Bond Buyer
Caitlin Devitt
16 January 2025

President-elect Donald Trump's pick for transportation secretary, former congressman and Fox News host Sean Duffy, pledged to trim red tape and keep federal funds flowing for big infrastructure projects during a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday.

"I don't think safety is a partisan issue," Duffy told the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, during what was its first meeting under Republican leadership of chair Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

"The projects  . . .  that we talk about today, those aren't partisan projects. Infrastructure is nonpartisan," Duffy said. "I'm committed to working in a bipartisan fashion to make sure we are looking at the best projects with the safest record."

Duffy faced little opposition from lawmakers who praised him for his reputation for bipartisanship during his years in the House.

If confirmed, Duffy would take the helm of a department that has grown substantially under the Biden administration as it stood up dozens of new programs as part of the five-year, $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Its budget totals roughly $146.2 billion, including advance IIJA appropriations.

Read on: USDOT nominee Sean Duffy pledges to keep infrastructure funds flowing | Bond Buyer

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