A member of President Donald Trump’s administration, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, recently engaged in an online exchange with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) boss Elon Musk’s work in addressing wasteful spending tied to USAID.
Duffy had announced that DOGE personnel, under Musk’s leadership, would assist in upgrading the department’s aviation systems, especially after two deadly plane crashes during his short time in office. Clinton, however, took issue with Duffy’s leadership, claiming the department had “deteriorated” under his watch, conveniently ignoring the numerous transportation mishaps during former Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s tenure.
In her post, Clinton criticized Musk’s team, questioning their qualifications for tackling the upgrade of the aviation system. She argued that many DOGE personnel lacked the relevant experience, claiming they were “not old enough to rent a car,” and suggested they weren’t fit to handle the safety of an already deteriorating aviation system.
Duffy responded by pointing out that it was the “experienced Washington bureaucrats” who were responsible for the federal government’s problems, contributing to the nation’s crumbling infrastructure. He further revealed that Musk’s team had uncovered significant issues with wasteful spending by the Clintons through USAID.
Duffy’s response to Clinton’s critique went further, accusing her family of “obscene grifting” via USAID. He made it clear that Musk’s team was uncovering corruption and waste that had been overlooked previously. Duffy, a former Fox News host, emphasized that under his leadership, the department would focus on safety and innovation, highlighting the failures of Clinton’s team.
He noted, “We’re moving on without you because the American people want us to make America’s transportation system great again,” and added that he would be working with the younger, innovative minds on his team to achieve these goals.
This online back-and-forth between Duffy and Clinton occurred amidst a broader conversation about transportation safety. Duffy had committed during his confirmation hearing to prioritize aviation safety and restore confidence in companies like Boeing, which had faced several high-profile accidents.
He also pledged to allow the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to investigate Tesla’s advanced driving technology, a significant step given that Tesla is led by Musk. Meanwhile, other controversies in the transportation sector, such as a massive chemical spill in Ohio and the Biden administration’s handling of train derailments, have continued to spark heated debates on both sides of the political spectrum.
