History of Sean Duffy in Timeline

Sean Patrick Duffy is an American politician, lawyer, former prosecutor, and former television personality. He is currently the 20th United States Secretary of Transportation since 2025. Previously, he served as the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district from 2011 to 2019 as a member of the Republican Party. Duffy's career spans law, politics, and television, highlighting a diverse professional background.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

October 3, 1971: Sean Duffy Born

On October 3, 1971, Sean Patrick Duffy was born. He would later become an American politician, lawyer, former prosecutor, and former television personality.

Others born on this day/year

1997: Starred on The Real World: Boston

In 1997, Sean Duffy starred on The Real World: Boston, the sixth season of the MTV reality television show.

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1998: Starred on Road Rules: All Stars

In 1998, Sean Duffy starred on Road Rules: All Stars, where he met his future wife Rachel Campos.

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2002: Appeared on Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Battle of the Seasons

In 2002, Sean Duffy appeared on Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Battle of the Seasons.

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2002: District Attorney of Ashland County

In 2002, Sean Duffy served as district attorney of Ashland County, Wisconsin.

2002: Appointed Ashland County District Attorney

In 2002, Sean Duffy, a Republican, was appointed Ashland County district attorney to succeed Michael Gableman by Governor Scott McCallum.

2003: Competitor and commentator on ESPN's Great Outdoor Games

In 2003, Sean Duffy appeared as both a competitor and commentator on ESPN's Great Outdoor Games.

2004: Re-elected as Ashland County District Attorney

In 2004, Sean Duffy was reelected unopposed as the Ashland County District Attorney.

2004: Named Badger State Games Honorary Athlete

Sean Duffy was named Badger State Games Honorary Athlete of the 2004 Winter Games.

2006: Re-elected as Ashland County District Attorney

In 2006, Sean Duffy was reelected unopposed as the Ashland County District Attorney.

2008: Appeared in a filmed segment on The Real World Awards Bash

In 2008, Sean Duffy and Rachel Campos appeared in a filmed segment on The Real World Awards Bash while Duffy served as district attorney.

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2008: Wisconsin Elector

In 2008, Sean Duffy was on the Republican slate of the 10 Wisconsin electors for the 2008 presidential election.

2008: Re-elected as Ashland County District Attorney

In 2008, Sean Duffy was reelected unopposed as the Ashland County District Attorney.

July 8, 2009: Announced Campaign for Congress

On July 8, 2009, Sean Duffy announced his campaign for Congress in Wisconsin's seventh congressional district.

May 2010: Dave Obey announced that he would not seek re-election

In May 2010, incumbent Democratic representative Dave Obey announced that he would not seek re-election and following Obey's announcement, Democratic state senator Julie Lassa joined the race.

June 4, 2010: Resigned from position of Ashland County district attorney

On June 4, 2010, Sean Duffy announced his resignation from the position of Ashland County district attorney to focus on the congressional race. The resignation was effective three weeks later and Duffy returned to work in his father's law practice.

November 2, 2010: Won election to Congress

On November 2, 2010, Sean Duffy won the race for Congress in Wisconsin's seventh congressional district.

2010: End of Term as District Attorney

In 2010, Sean Duffy's time as district attorney of Ashland County, Wisconsin, came to an end.

March 2011: Attended town hall meeting regarding salary cuts

In March 2011, following the passage of a state bill that would freeze the salaries of state employees, Sean Duffy attended a Polk County Republican public town hall-style meeting in his district. When asked about cutting his own $174,000 salary, he responded that he would only be willing to do so as part of a general round of salary cuts, saying he was "struggling" to get by.

December 22, 2011: Published open letter to John Boehner

On December 22, 2011, Sean Duffy and Rick Crawford published an open letter to Speaker John Boehner, urging the leader to allow the House to vote on the Senate's two-month tax cut extension compromise.

2011: Voted to eliminate Davis–Bacon Act prevailing wage requirements

In 2011, Duffy voted to eliminate Davis–Bacon Act prevailing wage requirements for federal projects.

2011: Elected as U.S. Representative

In 2011, Sean Duffy became the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district.

2011: Moved to Weston, Wisconsin

In late 2011, Sean Duffy and his family moved to Weston, Wisconsin, so that Duffy would be closer to Central Wisconsin Airport for his commute to Washington, D.C.

2013: Introduced resolution with Michael Michaud

In 2013, Sean Duffy and Michael Michaud introduced a resolution calling for government action to ensure that people be provided with paper-based information along with electronic.

December 2015: Introduced legislation for financial oversight of Puerto Rico

In December 2015, Sean Duffy introduced legislation to establish a five-person financial oversight board over Puerto Rico in exchange for allowing public entities in Puerto Rico access to Chapter 9 restructuring.

January 2017: Co-sponsored legislation to end protection for grey wolves

In January 2017, Sean Duffy co-sponsored legislation that would end protection for grey wolves in the Endangered Species Act.

February 2017: Interview with CNN on Trump's immigration ban

In February 2017, Sean Duffy gave an interview to CNN's Alisyn Camerota supporting President Trump's immigration and travel ban.

July 2018: Accusation of economic terrorism

In July 2018, Sean Duffy said that Europe, China, Canada and Mexico had committed "economic terrorism in a way" by placing retaliatory tariffs on the United States in response to tariffs enacted by the Trump administration.

2018: Introduced legislation for Trump to enact more tariffs

In 2018, Sean Duffy introduced legislation for President Trump to enact more tariffs.

August 2019: Expecting ninth child

As of August 2019, Sean Duffy and his wife were expecting their ninth child that October.

August 26, 2019: Announced resignation from Congress

On August 26, 2019, Sean Duffy announced that he was resigning from Congress, effective September 23, because he and his wife learned that their ninth child would experience health complications.

September 23, 2019: Resigned from Congress

Sean Duffy resigned his seat effective September 23, 2019, to have more time to help his wife care for their daughter, who has a heart defect.

2019: End of Term as U.S. Representative

In 2019, Sean Duffy's term as the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district came to an end.

August 2021: Purchased home in Mendham Township, New Jersey

In August 2021, Sean Duffy purchased a home in Mendham Township, New Jersey, where he, his wife, and their children currently reside.

December 2022: Named co-host of The Bottom Line

In December 2022, Sean Duffy and Dagen McDowell were named co-hosts of The Bottom Line, a show on Fox Business.

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January 23, 2023: The Bottom Line show premiered

On January 23, 2023, The Bottom Line, a show on Fox Business co-hosted by Sean Duffy, premiered.

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2023: Served on BGR Group's advisory board

After 2023, Sean Duffy served on the advisory board for the lobbying firm BGR Group.

November 18, 2024: Nominated for U.S. Secretary of Transportation

On November 18, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Sean Duffy to be his nominee for U.S. Secretary of Transportation in his second presidency.

January 15, 2025: Transportation Secretary Confirmation Hearing

On January 15, 2025, during his hearing, Sean Duffy stated that if confirmed, his first trip as Secretary of Transportation would be to the Appalachian mountain regions of Tennessee and North Carolina, where flooding from Hurricane Helene damaged major interstate highways along with countless smaller roads and bridges.

January 28, 2025: Confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Transportation

On January 28, 2025, Sean Duffy was confirmed by the United States Senate as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and was sworn in later that day.

January 28, 2025: Officially sworn in as Secretary of Transportation

Sean Duffy was officially sworn in as Secretary of Transportation by United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on January 28, 2025.

January 29, 2025: Ceremonially sworn in as Secretary of Transportation

On January 29, 2025, Sean Duffy was ceremonially sworn in as Secretary of Transportation by Vice President JD Vance.

February 10, 2025: Travel to western North Carolina

On February 10, 2025, Sean Duffy traveled to western North Carolina as Secretary of Transportation.

March 7, 2025: Clash with Elon Musk

On March 7, 2025, The New York Times reported that Sean Duffy had a clash with Elon Musk during a White House cabinet meeting, criticizing DOGE's pressure to dismiss air traffic controllers. Musk retorted that Duffy's statement was a "lie".

2025: Appointed as Secretary of Transportation

In 2025, Sean Duffy began serving as the 20th United States Secretary of Transportation.

2025: Responded to Potomac River mid-air collision

On his first official day in office in 2025, Sean Duffy responded to the 2025 Potomac River mid-air collision from the Federal Aviation Administration headquarters, instructing an investigation and ordering his department to provide full support. He also held phone conversations with various officials and delivered a press conference at Reagan National Airport.