If you’re trying to keep track of who is running the show in D.C. lately, you aren’t alone. It’s a bit of a whirlwind. Honestly, if you still have Pete Buttigieg’s name stuck in your head, that makes total sense—he was everywhere for four years. But things changed fast after the 2024 election.
Sean Duffy is now the man in charge. He’s the 20th U.S. Secretary of Transportation, and he officially took the reins on January 28, 2025.
You’ve likely seen him on TV before. Before he was managing a massive federal agency with 50,000 employees, he was a Fox Business host. Even further back, he was a reality TV star on MTV’s The Real World. It’s a wild career path, sure, but he also spent nearly a decade in Congress representing Wisconsin.
Who is Head of the Department of Transportation Right Now?
Basically, Sean Duffy is the one sitting at the big desk. He was nominated by President Donald Trump and sailed through a 77-22 Senate confirmation vote. People expected a massive fight, but he actually got a decent amount of bipartisan support, likely because of his deep ties from his time on the House Financial Services Committee.
Duffy isn't just a "politics guy." He grew up in Hayward, Wisconsin, and comes from a long line of lumberjacks. We’re talking world-champion speed climber and log roller. It’s a fun piece of trivia, but it also colors how he talks about infrastructure—he’s very focused on the "building" side of things.
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The Immediate Shift in Priorities
The moment he was sworn in by Justice Clarence Thomas, Duffy didn't waste time. He literally signed a memorandum on his first day to start rolling back Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.
His logic? He wants to make cars cheaper for the average family.
He’s been very vocal about "ending the EV mandate." If you’ve felt like the government was pushing you toward an electric car you didn't want, Duffy is the guy trying to put the brakes on that. He’s shifting the department’s focus toward traditional internal combustion engines and what he calls the "Golden Age of Travel."
What Does the DOT Actually Do?
Most people only think about the Department of Transportation (DOT) when a flight gets canceled or a bridge collapses. But it's way bigger than that.
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- The FAA: They handle the planes. Duffy has promised to hire more air traffic controllers because, frankly, the system has been stressed to the breaking point lately.
- The FHWA: These are the highway people. They handle the billions of dollars going into roads and bridges.
- Safety Oversight: This includes everything from pipeline safety to making sure Boeing isn't cutting corners.
Duffy recently met with Maryland Governor Wes Moore to talk about the Francis Scott Key Bridge reconstruction. It’s a huge project, and Duffy has been putting a lot of pressure on the budget and timeline. He’s sort of acting like a project manager for the whole country’s infrastructure.
The NASA Side Quest
Here’s a weird detail most people missed: For a few months in 2025, Duffy was actually the acting administrator of NASA too. He held that spot from July until December 2025 while the administration sorted out a permanent lead (Jared Isaacman eventually took over). It was a strange double-duty period that you don't see often in Washington.
Why This Transition Matters for You
Politics aside, the person who is head of the Department of Transportation changes your daily life more than you'd think.
If you're a pilot or a frequent flyer, you're going to notice a change in how the DOT handles "DEI" (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs. Duffy has made it a primary goal to eliminate these in aviation, arguing that the focus should be 100% on technical competence and safety.
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If you’re a driver, you’re looking at a future where self-driving car regulations might actually get standardized. Duffy has mentioned several times that he wants a federal framework for autonomous vehicles so we don't have a confusing "patchwork" of different state laws.
Current Projects on the Radar
Right now, in early 2026, Duffy is pushing a massive $5 billion rail safety initiative. It's focused on "grade crossings"—those places where train tracks cross the road. There are thousands of accidents there every year, and the goal is to use technology to prevent those collisions.
He’s also been spending time at the Detroit Auto Show. He was just there on January 17, 2026, talking about "rescuing" the American auto industry from what he calls "over-regulation."
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to keep tabs on how these changes affect your travel or your wallet, here is what you can actually do:
- Check Fuel Standard Updates: If you're in the market for a new car, keep an eye on the CAFE standard rollbacks. It might change the pricing and availability of gas-powered SUVs and trucks over the next year.
- Monitor FlightRights.gov: While this was a Buttigieg-era launch, the DOT still maintains it. Use it to see what you're owed if an airline messes up your trip.
- Track Local Infrastructure Grants: Most of the $5 billion for rail and road safety is being handed out to states right now. You can check the DOT's "Briefing Room" on their official website to see if your city or state is getting a chunk of that for local bridge or road repairs.
- Follow the FAA Reauthorization: There’s ongoing talk about how to fix the air traffic controller shortage. If you’re a frequent flyer, the progress of these hiring surges will be the biggest factor in whether your flights are delayed this summer.
The Department of Transportation isn't just a boring bureaucracy; it's the gears and wheels of the country. With Sean Duffy at the helm, the focus has shifted hard toward deregulation and traditional infrastructure. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing depends on who you ask, but at least now you know exactly who's making the calls.