Senate Commerce Committee questions Sean Duffy on aviation safety, permitting and infrastructure priorities

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a confirmation hearing for President-elect Trump's nominee for Secretary of Transportation, Congressman Sean Duffy, who pledged to prioritize safety, speed up federal project delivery and work with senators on infrastructure and regulatory issues.

During his opening remarks, Duffy framed safety as his central goal, saying his desired legacy would be "improving safety" and highlighting road and aviation safety as top priorities. He introduced his family and said that, if confirmed, he would "work with Congress and the FAA to restore global confidence in Boeing and to ensure that our skies are safe." (Congressman Sean Duffy)

Why it matters: The Transportation secretary directs agencies that oversee aviation, highways, pipelines and commercial space launches and plays a central role in implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the next surface transportation reauthorization due in 2026. The committee used the hearing to press Duffy for commitments on concrete programs and oversight priorities.

Key commitments and exchanges

- Aviation safety and Boeing oversight: Multiple senators pressed Duffy on FAA oversight of aircraft manufacturing and recent incidents involving Boeing. Duffy said he would…