Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy Faces Senate Scrutiny Over Funded Road Trip and Bike‑Lane Funding Cuts

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defended a 10‑state "Great American Road Trip" promoted by the bipartisan America 250 commission after Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D‑NY) questioned the project's financing. Gillibrand noted the nonprofit organizing the trip received donations from companies Duffy oversees, including Toyota, Boeing and United Airlines, and argued the travel‑industry funding created a conflict of interest. Duffy responded that the initiative is meant to encourage tourism and family travel.

Separately, Duffy has called for Congress to restrict grant funding for bicycle lanes and to remove existing lanes, directing Federal Highway Administration staff to delete bike‑related content from agency websites. His proposal sparked protests and a lawsuit that led a federal judge to pause the demolition of a Washington, D.C., bike lane, citing a lack of reasoned explanation. Public opinion polls show strong support for bike lanes, highlighting the policy clash between the Secretary’s proposals and broader transportation safety and tourism goals.