A member of President Donald Trump’s administration, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, engaged in an online exchange with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over Elon Musk’s role in identifying wasteful spending at USAID.
Duffy had previously mentioned that Musk’s team from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) would assist in upgrading aviation systems following deadly plane crashes during his tenure. Clinton responded by criticizing Duffy’s leadership, claiming that the department had deteriorated under his watch and questioning the experience of DOGE personnel, who she claimed were too young and inexperienced to handle such crucial work.
Duffy fired back, accusing Clinton of trying to deflect attention from her and her family’s alleged involvement in “extreme grifting” at USAID, which Musk’s team had reportedly uncovered. He argued that experienced Washington bureaucrats were responsible for the nation’s infrastructure failures and that his department was committed to using innovative technology to improve transportation and safety.
Duffy also highlighted the ongoing issues with Boeing aircraft and rail accidents under the Biden administration, stressing his commitment to aviation safety. Meanwhile, Duffy confirmed that he would allow the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to continue investigating Tesla’s driving technology, acknowledging his responsibility in prioritizing safety.
The exchange highlighted the ongoing political tensions over leadership, infrastructure safety, and accountability within government agencies.