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 "let NHTSA do their investigation" and vowed that FAA oversight would continue, adding he would "push the FAA to make sure they're implementing their safety plan." (Duffy)

- FAA reauthorization, air traffic controllers and pilot shortages: Senators urged stronger staffing for air traffic controllers and action on pilot shortages. Duffy backed efforts to recruit and modernize the system and said he would work with the committee on workforce and training initiatives.

- Buy America and accessibility: Senator Tammy Baldwin pressed Duffy to support and enforce Buy America provisions and to improve access for travelers with disabilities. Duffy said he would follow the law and work with lawmakers on the Buy America rule and accessibility measures.

- NEPA, permitting reform and state delegations: Senator Cruz asked whether Duffy would prioritize renewal of Texas's NEPA assignment for FHWA and Duffy agreed to "look at the designation" and to pursue reauthorization on reasonable terms. More broadly, multiple senators urged permitting reforms to shorten project delivery times so funds move "out the door" faster; Duffy committed to reviewing processes to increase efficiency while maintaining environmental protections.

- Deepwater port licenses and energy permitting: Chair raised five pending deepwater port license applications before MARAD that he said have been delayed, including a Texas-based Delfin/Delfin LNG application; Duffy committed to follow statute and review the reapplication and the licensing process.

- California high-speed rail transparency: Chair said the California High-Speed Rail project has an estimated unfunded gap of roughly $100 billion and noted the administration awarded more than $4 billion; he asked Duffy to share DOT career staff ratings for discretionary awards over the last four years. Duffy committed to sharing those ratings with the committee.

- Tribal, rural and port infrastructure: Senators from rural and Great Lakes states pressed Duffy to ensure equitable distribution of port and tribal transportation funding. Duffy said he would emphasize assistance and simplify access for tribes and work to secure fair funding for ports and rural projects.

- Drones, autonomous vehicles and commercial space: Several senators asked Duffy to support clear, national rules for autonomous vehicles, to accelerate FAA rulemaking on drones (including BVLOS) and to review recent FAA actions affecting commercial space launches; Duffy said he would seek clear rules so innovators remain in the U.S. and would review FAA's handling of commercial space launch approvals.

Quotable

'I absolutely will. I'll work with you, senator,' Duffy said when asked whether he would help establish the Center for Advanced Air Mobility the chair had included in recent legislation.

'You have my commitment,' Duffy told Senator Schatz when asked whether he would administer IIJA and related awards without political interference.

Procedural note and next steps

Chairman Cruz entered letters of support into the hearing record and set deadlines for questions for the record: senators may submit questions by the close of business on Thursday, January 16; the nominee has until the end of day Sunday, January 19, to respond. The committee adjourned without a recorded confirmation vote at the hearing.

What is unresolved

Several senators sought specific, near-term timetables on rulemakings and program rollouts (for example, distracted-driving countermeasure rulemaking timelines and FAA BVLOS rules). Duffy repeatedly pledged to review and follow up but in most cases stopped short of offering firm completion dates pending departmental review.

The hearing record will include the testimony and the letters entered by the chairman; senators and the nominee will continue the oversight and Q&A process through written questions for the record.