The Senate voted 77-22 on Tuesday to confirm Sean Duffy as the head of the Department of Transportation. This decision came after Duffy had previously advanced on a procedural vote of 97-0.
However, the confirmation vote was not without controversy. Some Democrats who had previously expressed support for Duffy ended up voting against him in protest of President Donald Trump's freeze on federal grants and loans. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut expressed his concerns about the funding freeze, stating that he could not support a nominee for the Transportation Department under these circumstances.
Blumenthal highlighted the impact of the freeze on road-building and bridge reconstruction projects in Connecticut, where officials are facing challenges in paying contractors and meeting payrolls. He emphasized the chaos and confusion caused by the freeze and stated that he needed to hear a clear protest from Duffy before he could support him.
Despite the opposition, Duffy's confirmation means that he will now lead 55,000 employees at the Department of Transportation. In this role, he will be tasked with addressing some of the most complex challenges facing the nation, including overseeing aviation, roadways, and rails.
