Well, folks, welcome to yet another chapter of "Trump Administration Picks the Perfect Candidate for the Absolute Worst Job Possible." This time, it’s Sean Duffy—former House lawmaker, reality TV star (remember Real World: Boston?), and now the man who thinks he can fix Boeing and America’s crumbling roads in one fell swoop. Spoiler alert: it’s not looking good.
Let’s break down his latest pearls of wisdom, shall we?
Boeing’s "Tough Love"—Because That’s Worked So Well Before
During his confirmation hearing, Duffy made it crystal clear that Boeing—the aerospace giant currently in an existential crisis—needs "tough love" to get back on track. Ah yes, because when you find out that an airplane door literally flew off mid-air, the solution isn’t a complete industry overhaul or, I don’t know, holding executives accountable. No, no. What Boeing needs is tough love. Maybe a firm handshake and a pep talk from the same people who let them self-certify their safety standards in the first place.
It’s not like Boeing has been coasting on government contracts, cutting safety corners, or prioritizing stock buybacks over passenger lives, right? Nope. Just a little "tough love" and everything will be fine. Maybe we should try this strategy with air traffic control, too. "You’ve got this, buddy. Just believe in yourself and that next landing will be smooth as butter."
Duffy insists that Boeing is crucial for national security and the American economy—which, to be fair, is true. But that doesn’t mean we should pretend their issues will be solved by a motivational poster in the break room. The FAA has already ramped up oversight after Boeing’s Alaska Airlines fiasco, barring them from increasing MAX production beyond 38 planes per month. Maybe instead of "tough love," we should try strict regulations and serious consequences. Just a thought.
EVs Must Pay Up—Because Apparently, Roads Are Only for Gas Guzzlers
Moving on to Duffy’s next stroke of genius: electric vehicles should be paying their fair share to use America’s roads. On the surface, this isn’t the most outrageous idea. After all, federally funded road repairs are currently covered by fuel taxes—something EV owners conveniently avoid. But the real comedy here is watching a Trump nominee suddenly discover the concept of user fees only when it comes to EVs.
For decades, Congress has refused to raise the gas tax, even though road maintenance costs keep going up. Instead, they’ve been using general tax revenue to plug the hole—effectively subsidizing all drivers, not just EV owners. But sure, let’s single out Teslas and Chevy Bolts as the real freeloaders here.
Of course, Duffy doesn’t have an actual plan to implement these fees—just vague ideas about "how to do that" being "a little more challenging." Maybe he can start by getting Elon Musk to Venmo the Department of Transportation a couple billion dollars. Or better yet, slap a toll booth on every charging station and let the free market do its thing. Whatever happens, expect the GOP to turn "EV owners are getting a free ride" into the next big culture war talking point.
Where’s the FAA Chief? Who Knows!
Adding to the chaos, the FAA is currently running on fumes. Administrator Mike Whitaker is stepping down, Deputy FAA Administrator Katie Thomson has already left, and Trump hasn’t even picked a replacement yet. But don’t worry, he’s considering Chris Rocheleau—a former FAA official who now works for the National Business Aviation Association (read: corporate aviation lobbyist). Because when you need someone to clean up a regulatory disaster, who better than a guy who’s spent his recent years advocating for less oversight?
Rocheleau will likely take over as deputy administrator, meaning he’ll be in charge of the FAA on January 20th. Meanwhile, Boeing will continue trying to convince the world that its planes are totally safe, despite overwhelming evidence that, well, they aren’t.
Priorities, Priorities
So let’s recap:
Boeing, which let a plane door fly off, gets "tough love."
EV owners, who help reduce emissions, get a financial slap on the wrist.
The FAA is basically a revolving door of corporate insiders.
If this all feels like watching a slow-motion car crash, that’s because it is. Duffy’s approach to transportation is classic Trump-era policymaking: prioritize big business, punish progress, and leave actual governance as an afterthought.
At this point, we might as well start placing bets on what’s next. Maybe the administration will introduce a new "Make Boeing Great Again" initiative, complete with taxpayer-funded bailouts. Or perhaps they’ll start charging cyclists and pedestrians for using sidewalks. After all, fair is fair, right?
Buckle up, America. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
