Trump’s Transportation Secretary Faces Aviation Disaster Immediately After Taking Office

In the early hours of Thursday, Sean Duffy, who recently became the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, spoke at a press conference while search and rescue teams worked tirelessly along the Potomac River to find survivors following a deadly incident involving a military helicopter and a commercial airliner close to Washington, D.C. Just one day into his new role, Duffy was faced with the responsibility of navigating the implications of the worst aviation disaster in the U.S. since September 11, 2001.

Duffy emphasized his sympathy for those affected by the crash, expressing that his focus was on the families who may have lost loved ones. Although he had previously outlined various transportation priorities during his confirmation hearings, such as enhancing competitiveness against Chinese electric vehicles and establishing regulations for self-driving cars, those discussions took a backseat due to the severity of this incident. The collision, which occurred near Reagan National Airport, resulted in the loss of 67 lives on board the aircraft.

As the investigation continues, Duffy stressed his commitment to uncovering the reasons behind the crash, noting that both aircraft were in communication with the control tower and adhered to their designated flight paths prior to the collision. He expressed the belief that the tragedy could have been prevented and voiced his intention to work closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board.

During the same press conference, former President Trump made contentious remarks regarding the causes of the crash, suggesting, without substantiation, that diversity policies had a hand in it. This statement came as Duffy reiterated Trump’s leadership and his administration's decision to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs initiated by the previous administration. Duffy's immediate priority appears to center on enhancing trust in the American aviation industry, assuring the public that safety must be paramount, and that efforts to reveal the truth behind the disaster would be relentless.