Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted on Sunday some of the ways that the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/biden-administration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previous administration</a> was focused on the wrong things inside the Department of Transportation.
Duffy made the remarks during an interview on CNN&#8217;s &#8220;State Of The Union&#8221; following two tragic plane crashes that happened last week.
Host Jake Tapper asked Duffy if DEI practices were in any way tied to the accident in Washington, D.C., where a military helicopter collided midair with a commercial passenger jet.
&#8220;So I do know that, in the last administration, they were focused on not safety, but they were focused on changing the name from cockpit to flight deck, or notice to airmen, they want to change it to notice to air mission,&#8221; Duffy said. &#8220;They focused on E.V.s and sustainability and racist roads, things that don&#8217;t matter in regard to safety.&#8221;
&#8220;Our mission since the start has been safety,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And they have lost that mission. And we see, when you don&#8217;t focus on safety and you focus on social justice or the environment, bad things happen.&#8221;
Duffy said that the department was going to assess all the ways that DEI has impacted the DOT and FAA and will release a report on it.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Sean Duffy just dispelled all the media lies about how Trump is just racist for suggesting that DEI played a role in the tragedy that unfolded in Washington, DC.
&#8220;I do know that in the last administration, they were focused not on safety, but they were focused on changing the… <a href="https://t.co/waSAo88ZJy">pic.twitter.com/waSAo88ZJy</a>
— Media Lies (@MediasLies) <a href="https://twitter.com/MediasLies/status/1886059454287815091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2025</a></blockquote>

Senate Commerce, Science, And Transportation Committee Holds Confirmation Hearing For Sean Duffy

Sean Duffy Outlines DEI Initiatives Biden Admin Focused On At Transportation Dept

Department of Transportation

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Executive

Pete Buttigieg

Politics

Sean Duffy

This past week, newly confirmed Secretary of Transportation and former Wisconsin Congressman Sean Duffy shared his heartfelt compassion with the families of the victims of the tragic crash at DCA airport during a White House press conference. One of the most pro-life, pro-family leaders to enter the administration, Duffy said to the American people that he would not rest until his team had answers. “You should be assured that when you fly, you’re safe,” he said.
As a mother of four young children who travels frequently, I, along with Duffy and our nation, am devastated by this tragedy and pray history never repeats itself. But with Secretary Duffy at the helm, I am confident he will keep his focus on the safety of our nation.
American voters should be thrilled with Trump’s choice as Secretary of Transportation largely because Duffy has consistently been pro-family and pro-life throughout his personal and professional life. Just before his confirmation hearing, the father of nine children was <a href="https://x.com/rcamposduffy/status/1879640552226091308?s=46&amp;t=puBpnZhB6ZGkSUjVe0Zwxg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spotted praying with his family</a>, a sign of a great leader ready to serve.
As citizens, we must step back from the political commentary about each nominee and consider his or her perspective on human life. Regardless of any role’s focus, the fundamental value of every human life is essential. This is not just a political issue but a moral one that will define America&#8217;s future. President-elect Trump’s administration will ultimately impact the protection of our American pre-born children for generations to come, and we should want each member of his team to share Duffy&#8217;s perspective.
At age 53, Duffy and his wife of 25 years, the well-known Fox News host Rachael Campos-Duffy, met in unusual circumstances – on an MTV reality show in the mid-90s. Even back then, Sean was described as a conservative, mid-western lumberjack from a ‘strict Irish-Catholic family’ with ten brothers and sisters. He and his future bride clashed with their more liberal cast members, foreshadowing their future careers.
Duffy earned a J.D. degree from William Mitchell College of Law and quickly became a special prosecutor and then a District Attorney before winning his seat in the House in 2010. He served in Congress from 2011 to 2019, all while growing his large family with Rachel. The couple remained devoted to each other, their faith, and their children, regardless of the countercultural environment we live in today.
In 2019, Duffy <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RachelCamposDuffy/posts/10157734471456202?ref=embed_post" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> he would be stepping down from his position as a U.S. Representative after learning that his newest baby girl would be born with complications. Valentina, baby number nine, needed open heart surgery within a few months of birth and was confirmed to have Down Syndrome. In Rachel’s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RachelCamposDuffy/posts/10157734471456202?ref=embed_post" target="_blank" rel="noopener">public birth announcement</a>, she exclaimed that an “extra chromosome certainly made her EXTRA cute. Life is wonderful!”.
Their response is a beautiful example of welcoming a precious life into the world, regardless of difficult and unforeseen circumstances. This worldview is the opposite of so many we hear about today – especially in countries such as Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, and Belgium, where more than 90% of women have their children killed via abortion after a Down Syndrome diagnosis.
Duffy has remained steadfast not only in his pro-life values but also in his political career.
In 2013, Duffy <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=742243356288&amp;set=vb.119657691436457&amp;type=3&amp;theater" target="_blank" rel="noopener">addressed the House of Representatives</a> regarding the Pennsylvania trial of Dr. Gosnell. He exposed the horrors of abortion, saying: “&#8230;dozens if not hundreds of babies have had their lives taken from them or they have been murdered— Left to lay in cardboard boxes. Left in toilets trying to swim for air. That kind of horror is being bestowed on children in America. And yet, where is the media? Where are the protests? Where are the congressional hearings? Where are the parents? Where are the high-powered meetings with the senators across the aisle?”
Just three years later, Duffy again called on legislators to take action to protect women and babies from abortion, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTcotAC6Zeo?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a>, “My friends, liberals, Congressional black caucus members, they talk about fighting for the defenseless and the hopeless and the downtrodden, but there is no one more hopeless or defenseless than an unborn baby. But their silence is deafening.” He cited the high abortion rate among minorities and how their communities are targeted by organizations such as Planned Parenthood.
This type of boldness from a politician should be commended and applauded. Duffy’s ability to defend the defenseless child in the womb and raise awareness of the brutality of the abortion procedure is the kind of leadership this country needs. Every leader in our nation’s Capitol needs to understand the grave importance of this issue that’s taking 2,800 precious lives every day in our country.
Duffy’s new role in the pro-life movement will undoubtedly have an impact on protecting the lives of pre-born children. Every person who recognizes the true dignity of human life can impact this issue.
The Secretary of Transportation oversees national transportation policy, with responsibilities ranging from negotiating and implementing international transportation agreements to assuring the fitness of U.S. airlines and ultimately <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">delivering</a> the world’s leading transportation system. Duffy will serve the American people and the economy by providing a safe, efficient, sustainable, and equitable way to move people and goods.
His pro-life views will affect every decision he makes in this position, which I believe will bring about honest communication, protection of life, and justice for human rights. Trump’s decision to nominate Sean Duffy for such a high-profile role in our government should be applauded, and we should continue to hold him and all our nation&#8217;s leaders accountable for upholding the right to life as part of their patriotic duty.
* * *
Kimberly Bird is a Catholic mother of four and a Senior Specialist in Communications and Public Affairs at Live Action.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Why Secretary Duffy’s Pro-Life Views Make Him A Stand-Out Leader

Why Secretary Duffy's Pro-Life Views Make Him A Stand-Out Leader

Abortion

Cabinet

Children

Opinion

President Trump

Pro-Life Movement

On Tuesday, the GOP-led <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> confirmed the nomination of Sean Duffy to become <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transportation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">transportation</a> secretary in President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a>&#8216;s second administration.
Senators voted 77-22 to confirm Duffy, a former Republican congressman from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/wisconsin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wisconsin</a> and ex-Fox Business host, who has pledged to focus on cutting red tape and improving travel safety in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/cabinet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cabinet</a> role. A number of Democrats joined with Republicans in approving the confirmation, but others voted against it amid a <a href="https://x.com/ElizLanders/status/1884294342497776097" target="_blank" rel="noopener">protest</a> against Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-pause-federal-grants-aid-f9948b9996c0ca971f0065fac85737ce" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pause</a> on federal grants and loans after the Senate unanimously advanced Duffy&#8217;s nomination the night before.
&#8220;Sean Duffy understands the transportation challenges that rural states like South Dakota face, and he’ll bring valuable experience that will help him manage our nation’s sprawling transportation system,&#8221; Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) <a href="https://x.com/LeaderJohnThune/status/1884013680519692595" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X. &#8220;I look forward to working with him in his new role.&#8221;
Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sean-duffy-to-be-trumps-transportation-secretary-will-end-dei-for-pilots" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> the nomination in November, noting how Duffy worked with Democrats during his time in Congress to enact <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/st-croix-bridge-legislation-signed-into-law/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a $700 million project</a> for the construction of a four-lane bridge between Wisconsin and Minnesota.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
🚨 NEW: President Trump announces the nomination of former Congressman <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanDuffyWI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SeanDuffyWI</a> as Secretary of Transportation. <a href="https://t.co/Sk3rn5IWKR">pic.twitter.com/Sk3rn5IWKR</a>
&mdash; Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1858648706708631782?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;He will prioritize Excellence, Competence, Competitiveness, and Beauty when rebuilding America’s highways, tunnels, bridges, and airports,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://x.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1858648706708631782" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;He will ensure our ports and dams serve our Economy without compromising our National Security, and he will make our skies safe again by eliminating DEI for pilots and air traffic controllers.&#8221;
Underscoring the bipartisan nature of Duffy&#8217;s support base, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the nominee at his confirmation hearing earlier this month, which was held by the Senate Commerce Committee.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The Senate has voted 97-0 to invoke cloture on the nomination of Sean Duffy for Secretary of Transportation. 
Duffy, a former Wisconsin Congressman, was introduced at his hearing by Senator Tammy Baldwin who said it was a “pleasure” to introduce him and that he was “the right… <a href="https://t.co/j5PWhqF0Ta">pic.twitter.com/j5PWhqF0Ta</a>
&mdash; Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) <a href="https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1884028933982609545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I am confident that Sean is the right person for this job in this upcoming administration,&#8221; Baldwin <a href="https://x.com/yashar/status/1884028933982609545" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;I believe he will help deliver for Wisconsin families, businesses, and workers, and I expect that he will work through this committee and both sides of the aisle to improve our infrastructure and address the challenges that arise in the years ahead.&#8221;
Joined by his wife, Fox News personality Rachel Campos-Duffy, and their children, Duffy testified that if confirmed to lead the Department of Transportation (DOT), he would prioritize streamlining infrastructure projects, efficient use of taxpayer dollars, and travel safety.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
WATCH: Transportation Secretary nominee Sean Duffy opening statement. <a href="https://t.co/93jjYVWuEs">pic.twitter.com/93jjYVWuEs</a>
&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1879564240564212160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Transportation impacts every aspect of life, from efficiently and securely moving products to our ports to the ease of commuting from work, to school, but also to church on Sunday,&#8221; Duffy said. &#8220;Together with President Trump and this committee and the entire DOT team I would hope to usher in a golden age of transportation and travel.&#8221;
Duffy is the sixth person to obtain Senate approval to join Trump&#8217;s second-term Cabinet. Scott Bessent, the nominee to lead the Treasury Department, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-confirms-trumps-pick-for-treasury-secretary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed</a> on Monday night. The others include Secretary of State <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/marco-rubio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marco Rubio</a>, CIA Director <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/john-ratcliffe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Ratcliffe</a>, Defense Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pete-hegseth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pete Hegseth</a>, and Homeland Security Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kristi-noem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kristi Noem</a>.
Reports <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pete-buttigieg-reportedly-considering-run-for-u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">emerged</a> on Tuesday saying <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pete-buttigieg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pete Buttigieg</a>, who led DOT in the Biden administration, is considering a 2026 Senate campaign in Michigan as Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/michigan-dem-senator-gary-peters-wont-run-for-re-election" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> he would not seek re-election.

Senate Confirms Sean Duffy As Trump’s Transportation Secretary

Congress

Presidential nomination

Transportation

U.S. Senate

Donald Trump Campaigns In Pennsylvania With One Week Until Election Day

Marco Rubio Leads Second Round Of Trump Noms Into Confirmation Hearings: Live Updates

Donald Trump

Marco Rubio

A federal judge this week ruled against a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/biden-administration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biden-Harris</a> administration program that allocated around $37 billion in federal road contracts for businesses owned by women and racial minorities, raising questions about the future of a decades-old affirmative action program.
Since the 1980s, the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program has required around 10% of federal dollars allocated for road construction contracts to go to women and certain racial minorities. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Biden signed in 2021, reauthorized the DBE and set aside $37 billion for eligible recipients.
This year, two small businesses sued the Transportation Department, saying that the DBE program caused them to lose out on business. On Monday, Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove <a href="https://will-law.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OPINION.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ruled</a> that the Biden-Harris administration could not enforce the DBE&#8217;s affirmative action quotas against the businesses.
“The Court is keenly aware of the past discrimination that certain groups of people have faced in this country,” Tatenhove wrote. “And the Court is sure that the federal government has nothing but good intentions in trying to remedy past wrongs. But remedying those wrongs must still pass constitutional muster. The federal government cannot classify people in such a manner that violates the principles of equal protection.”
This is the latest caste that builds off the Supreme Court&#8217;s June 2023 ruling that affirmative action was unconstitutional. One federal judge <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2024-03-06/a-federal-judge-has-ordered-a-us-minority-business-agency-to-serve-all-races" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ruled</a> that the Minority Business Development Agency needed to be open to working with business owners of all races, while another judge <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/09/07/sba-8a-program-ruling-affirmative-action/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that the Small Business Administration could not distribute contracts based on the claim that certain races are inherently disadvantaged.
The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) filed the lawsuit on behalf of Mid-America Milling and Bagshaw Trucking. The businesses, which are owned in part by white males and operate in Kentucky and Indiana, routinely bid on federal contracts. Mid-America says it has lost out on 82 contracts in Indiana since January 2022 because of the DBE program.
In his decision, Van Tatenhove wrote that both companies have “previously lost out on federally funded contracts to DBE firms, even when Plaintiffs’ bids were lower.” 
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726313279401000&amp;usg=AOvVaw115_qPFFEePDP86-Fvo-Vd">Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here!</a>
WILL lawyer Daniel Lennington told The Daily Wire that the decision was a major blow for the Biden-Harris administration’s “equity agenda,” which pushes race-based programs throughout the federal government. 
Lennington noted that after a period of discovery, WILL would ask for a final decision from the judge that would block any business from being subject to the DBE program. 
“The DBE program is really baked into the DNA of road building in America and companies all across America just assume that this program is never going to go anywhere,” he said. “We believe that’s unconstitutional and it hurts real people that have real businesses every day.&#8221;

Road Construction As Muni Bond Sales Surge With Debt Met By Eager Investor Demand

Judge Blocks Biden Plan To Give $37 Billion In Construction Contracts To Women And Minorities

Biden Administration

Courts

Infrastructure

Racial Discrimination

A federal judge in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/texas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Texas</a> struck down a <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/12/07/2023-26019/national-performance-management-measures-assessing-performance-of-the-national-highway-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rule</a> from the Biden administration that required states and cities to measure and set goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions “associated with transportation.”
The rule, put forth by the Federal Highway Administration, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-sued-over-rule-that-mandates-emissions-standards-for-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticized by Republicans</a> who argued that the federal government lacked authority to implement the mandate and that it was an attempt by the Biden administration to impose its climate agenda on conservative states. Texas sued in December to have the rule vacated and a federal judge sided with the state on Wednesday. 
“A federal administrative agency cannot act without congressional authorization. Here, the Federal Highway Administration created a rule requiring the states to measure, report, and set declining targets for the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by vehicles using the interstate and national-highway systems,” <a href="https://subscriber.politicopro.com/eenews/f/eenews/?id=0000018e-855e-dc9c-ab9f-adfe6b270000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> Judge James Hendrix of the Northern District of Texas.
“Texas sued, alleging that the agency lacked authority to enact the rule. Given the statutory text’s plain language and context, the Court agrees,” Hendrix, a Trump appointee, added. 
In his 49-page decision, Hendrix said that the Department of Transportation had attempted to override the law&#8217;s “clear limitation of authorized performance measures to those that track the physical condition and efficiency of the interstate and national-highway systems.”
He said that in order for the federal government to force states to make greenhouse gas measurements Congress either had to amend 23 U.S. Code Section 150, a federal law related to national highways and interstates, or pass an entirely new law.
“If the people, through Congress, believe that the states should spend the time and money necessary to measure and report GHG emissions and set declining emission targets, they may do so by amending Section 150 or passing a new law,” Hendrix wrote. “But an agency cannot make this decision for the people.”
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The decision was celebrated by Republicans in Congress, including Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman Rick Crawford (R-AR).
“This was a clear case of blatant overreach by the Biden Administration from the beginning, and we commend the Court for its ruling that a ‘federal administrative agency cannot act without congressional authorization,’” Graves and Crawford said in a statement. “Congress rejected the inclusion of a GHG performance measure requirement when the infrastructure law was developed, making the Administration’s rule making an unlawful attempt to circumvent Congress and force this one-size-fits-all burden upon every state and community across the country.”

US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and NC governor Roy Cooper in North Carolina

Federal Judge Strikes Down Biden’s Highway Rule Imposing Climate Agenda On States

Climate Change

Texas

Former Transportation Secretary Jim Burnley, who served in the Reagan administration, discussed how the investigation &#8220;should proceed&#8221; in the coming months after the partial <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/baltimore-bridge-collapses-resulting-in-mass-casualty-event-after-its-struck-by-cargo-ship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bridge collapse</a> in Baltimore early Tuesday morning.
Fox News host Laura Ingraham spoke with Burnley after a container ship rammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to break apart. At least half a dozen people are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/6-people-presumed-dead-after-cargo-ship-crash-levels-baltimore-bridge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">presumed dead</a>.
&#8220;You were the transportation secretary in like a golden age of that department in my view, and I&#8217;m not saying it in a biased fashion,&#8221; said Ingraham, who was a speechwriter in the Reagan administration.
&#8220;You were an expert on so many things but tell us what happens next, or what should happen next in this mess of a situation involving a critical port?&#8221; she asked.
&#8220;First let me mention the six apparent fatalities, apparently all highway maintenance workers. That’s one of the most dangerous and under-appreciated jobs in America,&#8221; Burnley said. &#8220;Usually, it’s motorists that threaten them and in this case, a bridge comes down.&#8221;
In the segment, which was <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2024/03/26/jim-burnley-predicts-next-steps-baltimore-bridge-collapse/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highlighted by the Daily Caller</a>, Burnley went on to talk about the National Transportation Safety Board, an independent federal agency <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Pages/home.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tasked</a> with determining the probable causes of transportation accidents and issuing safety recommendations.
&#8220;The way this should proceed, and I expect it will proceed, is the investigation will be led by what I believe is the most credible agency in the United States government – that’s the National Transportation Safety Board,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;It is bipartisan. In fact its most recent appointee was chief of staff at DOT [Department of Transportation] during the Trump administration,&#8221; Burnley said. &#8220;It has a highly esteemed group of subject matter experts, it will call on the various federal agencies at DOT, at DHS [Department of Homeland Security] – the Army Corps of Engineers, in this case, will be involved.&#8221;
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Burnley surmised that it will &#8220;probably take quite a few months&#8221; before investigators reach their &#8220;bottom line conclusions&#8221; in looking into the Francis Scott Key Bridge incident.
&#8220;But that’s where we should all be focused, is on that agency and what it concludes,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It will make recommendations that I hope both the Executive Branch and Congress will take very seriously, whatever they are.&#8221;

Jim Burnley and other former transportation secretaries

Former Transportation Secretary Gives Rundown On How Investigation Into Baltimore Bridge Collapse ‘Should Proceed’

Former Transportation Secretary Gives Rundown On How Investigation Into Baltimore Bridge Collapse 'Should Proceed'

Baltimore

Laura Ingraham

Maryland

National transportation Safety Board

U.S.

Within their first month in office, the Biden Administration committed all federal agencies to fight the supposed “climate crisis” by aligning their policies with elements of the Paris Agreement and Green New Deal. Congressional Democrats swiftly followed suit — applauding announcements by the Administration to commit U.S. taxpayer money included in the so-called “Inflation Reduction” and “Infrastructure Investment” &amp; Jobs Acts (IRA and IIJA respectively) to force a climate transition. The actions of the Biden Administration mirror the continued corporate activism that’s been injected down Wall Street through the ESG movement.
While Florida has led the nation in combatting the proliferation of ESG within the financial sector, a new fight has emerged, this time within the federal bureaucracy and along our roadways. Recently, state transportation departments have seen a swift uptick in the politicization of infrastructure investments by the Biden Administration. Rather than focusing on road projects to reduce congestion, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is focused on social and environmental justice —neither of which supports the efficient movement of people or our supply chain.
Florida is home to the 14th largest economy in the world and fortunately has the means necessary to fight back against this overreach. So much so that only 25 percent of transportation funds in Florida come from the federal government, and Florida has committed over $64 billion to infrastructure improvements over the next 5 years. This is because of the leadership of Governor DeSantis and the commitment of the Florida Legislature in recognizing that every dollar invested in transportation infrastructure results in up to a $4 return to Florida residents and businesses.  
Recently, climate activists have scrutinized my decision for FDOT to not participate in the IIJA’s “Carbon Reduction” program—a program requiring states to submit “strategies” to reduce carbon emissions throughout our nation’s transportation infrastructure, specifically by tracking and reducing emissions from vehicles. How would states be measured you ask? That’s a great question.
As I stated in my recent <a href="https://fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/communications/11-13-23-fdot-response-letter.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> to USDOT, Florida will not participate in programs for which the rules are deliberately arbitrary. Oddly, this is the part most news outlets are not reporting – the “guidance” USDOT promised states for over a year related to this program was never provided. Ultimately, states were forced to put strategies on paper, submit them without proper guidance, and hope they wouldn’t be retroactively punished for not meeting whatever metric USDOT dreamt up after the fact.
Days after these “strategies” were due to USDOT, the department issued a final Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Rule, a rule entirely separate from the carbon reduction program that requires states to set arbitrary CO2 emissions reduction, to track their progress towards said targets, and track their performance. This rule is excessively burdensome on states, expensive to implement, and lacks guidance on what’s considered successful — another clear overreach by the federal government.
The intent of the GHG Emissions Rule was explicitly excluded by Congress during their consideration of the IIJA legislation. Florida has the best air quality on record and consistently commits to projects that protect our natural resources, including protecting our water quality and restoring the Everglades. We’ve prioritized programs to harden our infrastructure to ensure their continued resiliency for decades to come.
Thanks to the leadership of Governor DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody, Florida is proud to join 21 other states in <a href="https://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrelease/attorney-general-moody-and-governor-desantis-challenge-biden-administration-rule" target="_blank" rel="noopener">filing a federal lawsuit</a> challenging this rule.
The Biden Administration is unilaterally injecting policies into all aspects of American life that are not supported by science or even the letter of the law, the primary objective being absolute control. Initially, they wanted states to simply acknowledge carbon reduction as a necessary goal. This seemingly passive suggestion then transformed into an edict that states must reduce and track CO2 emissions. It is abundantly clear this Administration wants to create a regulatory environment that robs individuals of the liberty to decide what, when, and where they can drive.
The Free State of Florida values freedom, both in how you travel, what you drive, and what fuels your vehicle. Florida continuously strives to lead in infrastructure policy and development. Our state inherently values “fuel freedom” and uses its range of resources to lead the nation in transportation.
Governor DeSantis has been clear that he stands for individuals’ freedoms and that government should create the framework for people to succeed, not tell them how to succeed. These policies – and especially the GHG rule – are perversive towards the actual mission of many DOTs across the country, which is to move people and goods safely and efficiently, not to track, report, and reduce CO2 emissions.
Thankfully, FDOT anticipated this latest example of executive overreach and had the foresight to opt out of legitimizing it. Environmental protection and stewardship is a fundamental priority within every single one of our projects. Florida’s economy is booming, its transportation networks are rapidly advancing, and all the while its natural environment continues to flourish. This is due to the leadership of Floridians, not globalist ideologues whose only familiarity with our state is from their dreams of a better life. 

* * *
 Jared W. Perdue, P.E., is the Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Follow him @FDOT_Secretary
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

July 4th Holiday Weekend Expected To Draw Record Numbers Of Travellers To The Highways

Why Florida Rejects ‘Climate Crisis’ On Its Roadways

Why Florida Rejects 'Climate Crisis' On Its Roadways

Florida

Readers Pass

Ron DeSantis

Twenty-one states, led by Kentucky Attorney General <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/daniel-cameron" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daniel Cameron</a>, are challenging a new rule from the Biden administration that would mandate that states create emission standards and report back to the federal government on their progress. 
The rule from the Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) would mandate that state departments of transportation come up with goals to reduce CO2 emissions. The Republican attorneys general say that rule is unconstitutional and would harm rural areas where more driving is necessary. 
“President Biden is unconstitutionally ramming his radical climate agenda through administrative agencies that lack Congressional authority to implement such actions,” Cameron <a href="https://www.kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=AttorneyGeneral&amp;prId=1492" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “We will not stand by while this administration attempts to circumvent the legislative process.”
The rule, which is <a href="https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/states-sue-biden-administration-over-highway-emissions-rule?utm_source=daily&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">set</a> to go into effect on January 8, &#8220;requires State departments of transportation (State DOT) and metropolitan planning organizations (MPO) to establish declining carbon dioxide (CO2) targets for the GHG measure and report on progress toward the achievement of those targets. The rule does not mandate how low targets must be.&#8221;
The FHWA will also be <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/12/07/2023-26019/national-performance-management-measures-assessing-performance-of-the-national-highway-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">empowered</a> to “assess whether State DOTs have made significant progress toward achieving their targets.”
A  joint <a href="https://www.ag.ky.gov/Press%20Release%20Attachments/Complaint%20(as%20filed).pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">complaint</a> was filed on Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky by Cameron and the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
&#8220;Congress has not given FHWA or DOT authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions,&#8221; the complaint says. &#8220;Nor can the Agencies compel the States to administer a federal regulatory program or mandate them to further Executive policy wishes absent some other authority to do so — which is lacking as to this rule.”
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The complaint challenges President Joe Biden, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the FHWA, and FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt. It says that the rule is unconstitutional and violates the principles of federalism. 
Montana AG Austin Knudsen said the rule was another aspect of the Biden administration’s attempt to implement a “radical green agenda.”
&#8220;This rule is another unlawful and overreaching regulation by the Biden Administration to force the President’s radical green agenda onto Americans regardless of the costs,” Montana AG Austin Knudsen said. &#8220;This one-size-fits-all approach might work for the Washington, DC bureaucrats who cooked it up, but it won’t work for Montana.&#8221;

President Biden Returns To The White House

Biden Admin Sued Over Rule That Mandates Emissions Standards For States

Carbon Emissions

Daniel Cameron

Joe Biden

Kentucky

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Wednesday that cars were &#8220;going electric&#8221; whether the people were ready to go along with them or not.
Buttigieg made the comments during a CNN appearance — in response to a question about President Joe Biden&#8217;s visit to speak with striking auto workers on the United Auto Workers (UAW) picket lines in Michigan.
WATCH:
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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg responds to workers&#39; concerns over Biden&#39;s forced &quot;transition&quot; to electric vehicles:
&quot;These cars are going electric with or without us&quot; <a href="https://t.co/lj2ouOIBNp">pic.twitter.com/lj2ouOIBNp</a>
&mdash; RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1707028528191988136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Transportation Secretary referenced Biden&#8217;s appearance in Michigan and the fact that auto workers have voiced concerns about the transition to electric vehicles — and where that could leave their jobs moving forward.
Buttigieg began with a callback to his hometown of South Bend, Indiana, where he name-dropped two local UAW chapters before pivoting to talk about the economy and the transition to electric vehicles.
&#8220;Look, I come from South Bend, Indiana,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s the home of UAW Local 5 and UAW Local 9, I saw how the past generation of union auto jobs helped build the middle class build communities like the one I grew up in.&#8221;
&#8220;I also saw what happened when those factories closed,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;What the UAW is trying to do right now is to make sure that this next chapter of auto industry, which, let&#8217;s be very clear, these cars are going electric with or without us.&#8221;
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While President Biden was on the picket line in Michigan, Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) made an appearance at a UAW protest in Wentzville, Missouri — where he took aim at the Biden administration&#8217;s efforts to force the auto industry to go electric &#8220;with or without&#8221; the workers.
&#8220;I&#8217;d call on the Biden Admin right now: Cancel all of your terrible electric mandates that are killing these guys and taking their jobs,&#8221; Hawley said. &#8220;And these companies &#8230; need to invest in America and in American workers.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
WATCH: Hawley Joins UAW Picket Line In Wentzville, MO
&quot;I&#39;d call on the Biden Admin right now: Cancel all of your terrible electric mandates that are killing these guys and taking their jobs.
&quot;And these companies [&#8230;] need to invest in America and in American workers.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/fMppoa2261">pic.twitter.com/fMppoa2261</a>
&mdash; Senator Hawley Press Office (@SenHawleyPress) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenHawleyPress/status/1706701723325145193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/obamas-car-czar-blasts-biden-for-joining-auto-worker-picket-line">Obama&#8217;s &#8216;Car Czar&#8217; Blasts Biden For Joining Auto Worker Picket Line</a>

Transportation Secretary Buttigieg Testifies In House Oversight Hearing

Pete Buttigieg: ‘Cars Are Going Electric, With Or Without Us’

Pete Buttigieg: 'Cars Are Going Electric, With Or Without Us'

electric vehicles

Energy

This article is adapted from today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-turns-himself-in-to-authorities-at-miami-court" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trump Arraigned</a>
Former President Donald Trump was arraigned in a Miami federal courtroom earlier this afternoon on 37 felony counts relating to his alleged mishandling of classified documents. The former president pleaded not guilty. Per standard federal court procedure, recording devices were not allowed inside the courthouse. We’ll have more on his court appearance in tomorrow morning’s episode of Morning Wire. 
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/read-it-nashville-school-shooters-autopsy-released" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nashville Shooter Autopsy Released</a>
The autopsy of the Nashville school shooter who killed three children and three adults in March has been released. 
The autopsy report details the results of substance tests, as well as the mass shooter’s injuries before she was fatally shot by responding police officers. Blood, urine, and vitreous-humor tests performed on the shooter did not detect substance or alcohol abuse. The case summary called the shooter “a transgender person” who was “assigned female at birth. The shooter, who identified as male, had previously attended The Covenant School.”
<a href="https://freebeacon.com/latest-news/white-house-bans-trans-activist-who-went-topless-after-meeting-biden/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Transgender Activist Banned From White House After Going Topless</a>
President Biden banned a transgender activist from future White House events after a video from the White House’s Pride month celebration on Saturday went viral for all the wrong reasons. The video showed three trans-identifying people going topless during the event.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
GRAPHIC: Trans TikTok &quot;influencer&quot; Rose Montoya, posed topless at Biden&#39;s White House Pride celebration. Next to him is a biological female, also topless, who had her breasts surgically removed. <a href="https://t.co/1cprqxtkcQ">pic.twitter.com/1cprqxtkcQ</a>
&mdash; Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) <a href="https://twitter.com/charliekirk11/status/1668410936259125248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
One of the individuals — who’s now banned — Rose Montoya, a biological male who identifies as a woman, met with the president and first lady at the White House for the event. The White House issued a statement Tuesday afternoon, calling Montoya’s behavior “inappropriate and disrespectful.”
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<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/after-over-50-years-the-beatles-will-release-their-last-record" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Beatles To Release New Album With AI Help</a>
With the help of artificial intelligence, the world-famous band The Beatles will release a new record more than 50 Years after the band broke up.
The last Beatles song they recorded collectively was “The End,” from the album “Abbey Road” in 1969. That was the final song of the medley on side two of the album. Bandmate John Lennon was murdered at the age of 40 in December 1980, and George Harrison died of cancer at the age of 58 in 2001. But surviving member Paul McCartney revealed during a radio interview, he will “extricate” Lennon’s voice from an old demo to create the group’s final song, believed to be titled “Now And Then.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Paul McCartney announcing that there will be a new Beatles song released in 2023: <a href="https://t.co/l9VHelaDr6">pic.twitter.com/l9VHelaDr6</a>
— The Beatles Earth (@BeatlesEarth) <a href="https://twitter.com/BeatlesEarth/status/1668634850906218503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/11/us/philadelphia-i-95-collapse-fire/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Body Uncovered In Philadelphia I-95 Rubble</a>
A body has been recovered from the rubble and debris following the tragic accident that caused the interstate 95 collapse in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) issued a disaster declaration Monday in the wake of that accident, which was caused after a truck carrying 8,500 gallons of gasoline crashed and ignited a fire. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg visited the site on Tuesday, and gave updates on government coordination.
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MIAMI, FLORIDA – JUNE 13: Former U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he makes a visit to the Cuban restaurant Versailles after he appeared for his arraignment on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 federal charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements.

Tuesday Afternoon Update: Trump Arraigned, White House Bans Topless Transgender Activist

Tuesday Afternoon Update:

Artificial Intelligence

Nashville

Philadelphia

The Beatles

The COVID pandemic exposed the weakness of America’s supply chain. Over-regulation, congested ports, and supplier shortages all combined to drive up the price and lead times of the products the United States imports from around the world. The supply chain has recovered, for the most part, as the global economy has slowed and shippers began utilizing ports on the East and Gulf Coasts, alleviating the congestion in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. 
Today, however, the supply chain is once again teetering on the brink of a catastrophe, this time at the hands of labor unions and mother nature.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), which represents approximately 22,000 West Coast dock workers, reached a tentative agreement with an “association representing the U.S. West Coast employers of <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/west-coast-port-union-employers-reach-tentative-agreement-some-issues-2023-04-20/">port laborers</a> on some key issues,” in April 2023. These negotiations have been dragging on for nearly a year, and the contract between the “Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the union expired on July 1, 2022.”
The deal has yet to be ratified, and there are still many open issues that remain to be resolved. <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-02/la-oakland-port-terminals-shut-over-congestion-labor-issues?cmpid=BBD060523_TRADE&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_term=230605&amp;utm_campaign=trade">Last week</a>, members of the ILWU effectively “shut down operations at some marine terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Similar actions shut down or severely impacted terminal operations at the ports of Oakland, Tacoma, Seattle, and Hueneme.”
The COVID-driven congestion of West Coast ports, combined with the threat of labor actions by dock workers there, have driven many supply chain professionals to divert shipments to the Gulf and East Coasts of the United States. In fact, according to Bloomberg, “West Coast container volumes were down 10% in the first quarter of 2023, compared to the same period in 2019. Gulf ports saw a 43% increase in goods over the same period.”
But ports in the Gulf and East Coasts may find themselves on the outside looking in. A significant drought is lowering the water level of Gutan Lake in Panama and  the Panama Canal, resulting in both weight limits and rising surcharges for vessels traversing the canal.
The Panama Canal Authority has reduced the draft (how deep a ship can sit in the water) from 50 feet to 44 feet, which can reduce a ship’s payload by up to 40%, per <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-02/inflation-rates-may-stay-high-if-panama-canal-drought-snarls-supply-chain?cmpid=BBD060523_TRADE&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_term=230605&amp;utm_campaign=trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bloomberg</a>. Some ocean carriers began charging per-box container fees of $300-500 on June 1 in response to draft limits. Cargo rates will “rise on other routes if low water levels for shippers to find <a href="https://fortune.com/2023/06/02/panama-canal-water-levels-drought-inflation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">alternatives</a> — especially in the peak shipping months of August and September when retailers build inventory ahead of the holiday shopping season.”
If the Panama Canal continues to see its depth decrease, and the cost of shipping via the canal rise, companies will have to either utilize the Suez Canal to service East and Gulf Coast ports or rely on West Coast ports — the same ports that are under threat of a work stoppage.
Interestingly, the challenges faced by the Panama Canal could contribute to inflation in the United States, forcing the Federal Reserve to continue increasing interest rates. Steamship companies are raising rates and imposing surcharges for companies shipping via the Panama Canal. Since ships will carry approximately 40% less cargo, companies will need to ship more containers, failing to take advantage of full container load pricing. This will drive inflation. In fact, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261560622001747" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research</a> shows that a 20% increase in shipping costs will raise the inflation rate by 0.15 percentage points one year later.
A West Coast dock workers’ strike, combined with shrinking water levels in the Panama Canal, would have a devastating impact on the U.S. supply chain and the nation’s economy.
One person missing from this discussion is Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. Perhaps ‘Mayor Pete’ has once again gone on vacation, as he did during the negotiations with railroad workers in the Fall of 2022.
Jim Nelles is a Navy veteran and supply chain consultant based in Chicago. His articles have appeared in the Washington Examiner, Newsweek, Foxnews.com, and the Daily Wire. He has served as a chief procurement officer, chief supply chain officer, and chief operations officer for multiple companies.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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