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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
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A member of President Donald Trump’s administration traded barbs online with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding Department of Government Efficiency boss Elon Musk’s work in identifying wasteful spending associated with USAID.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy responded to a jab by Clinton online after he said that DOGE personnel under Musk were going to help the department upgrade its aviation systems following a pair of deadly plane crashes during Duffy’s short tenure.
Clinton claimed that the department has “deteriorated” under Duffy’s leadership—ignoring all of the transportation infrastructure accidents and mishaps during former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s four-year tenure.
Clinton also claimed that DOGE personnel don’t have the “relevant experience” to tackle an aviation system upgrade.
“Most of them aren’t old enough to rent a car. And you’re going to let them mess with airline safety that’s already deteriorated on your watch?” She questioned in a Wednesday post on X.
Duffy responded that it was the “experienced Washington bureaucrats” that were behind the problems in the federal government and why the “nation’s infrastructure is crumbling.”
“You need to sit this one out,” he noted further before going on to reveal that Musk’s team had also uncovered “extreme grifting” by both Bill and Hillary Clinton via USAID.
“I know you’re lashing out because DOGE is uncovering your family’s obscene grifting via USAID, but I won’t let you lie and distort facts,” Duffy, a former Fox News host, wrote in a Thursday post. “I’m returning this department to its mission of safety by using innovative technology in transportation and infrastructure.
“Your team had its chance and failed. We’re moving on without you because the American people want us to make America’s transportation system great again. And yes, we’re bringing the 22-year-olds with us,” Duffy continued.
In addition to rail accidents, such as a massive chemical spill near a small town in Ohio under the Biden-Harris administration, aircraft manufactured by Boeing were involved in several in-flight incidents and emergencies, including the sudden loss of a cabin door and issues with the latest version of the aircraft maker’s 737. Also, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has faced a host of serious problems and issues on its maiden crewed flight, stranding two astronauts on the International Space Station.
During his confirmation hearing last month, Duffy told the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation that, if confirmed, he would prioritize aviation safety, including restoring confidence in Boeing, according to The Hill.
“I think we have to … push the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] to make sure they are implementing their safety plan,” Duffy told the panel, saying that he would work with the FAA and Congress to “restore global confidence in Boeing and to ensure our skies are safe … In one of my meetings, someone said they need tough love, which is what they do need.”
Duffy, a former five-term GOP congressman from Wisconsin, also confirmed that he would allow the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to proceed with its investigation into the safety of Tesla’s advanced driving technology. Tesla is led by Musk.
“Yes, I commit to this committee and you that I will let NHTSA do their investigation,” Duffy said.
A senior Biden administration official pushed back on Buttigieg after he appeared to blame Trump for the derailment of a train in East Palestine, Ohio, in February that led to a massive environmental disaster.
The fact check of sorts by an official with the NTSB came after Buttigieg responded to Trump’s visit to the small community to deliver water and other supplies and to show his support for the people affected by the spillage of highly toxic chemicals.
The official blasted Buttigieg’s attempt to politicize Trump’s visit and blame him for the disaster by noting that the responsibility for the accident lay with the rail carrier Norfolk Southern.