Sean
Duffy
REPUBLICAN
New Jersey
Appointed Position:
United States Secretary of Transportation
Overview
After serving in Congress, Sean Duffy went to K Street to work for right-wing lobbying firm BGR. Since then, he has been scrutinized for improper use of campaign funds and had numerous lobbying clients that could be directly affected by decisions made by the Department of Transportation.
The Facts
During his time as a lobbyist, Duffy represented Partnership for Fair and Open Skies, a group including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, to defend airline junk fees.
Shortly after his nomination, Airlines for America tweeted that they were “thrilled that President-elect Trump has chosen Congressman Duffy to lead the Department of Transportation.”
Duffy lobbied for oil company Enterprise Products LLC, a member of the American Petroleum Institute. In 2022, the American Petroleum Institute lobbied against a federal rule tightening up safety rules for pipelines located in particularly sensitive areas.
After leaving Congress, Duffy used his campaign accounts for lavish stays at the Ritz Carlton, personal expenses for security, and mysterious payments to the IRS.
On Duffy’s personal financial disclosure, he listed three BGR clients for whom he did consulting work – Metlife, Enterprise Products Operating, and Marcum. Duffy is not identified as a registered lobbyist for these clients on federal filings. What was the nature of Duffy’s work for these three clients?
How was Duffy involved in the Partnership for Fair and Open skies campaign against attempts to eliminate junk fees?
Questions to Track