The Great American Road Trip: Scrutiny Over a Cabinet Secretary's Reality Series
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, along with his wife and nine children, traveled across the United States over a seven-month period for a five-part reality series titled "The Great American Road Trip." The series, produced by a nonprofit organization, is set to air on YouTube to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. The project has drawn scrutiny regarding its timing, funding, and potential conflicts of interest.
Production and Funding
The series was produced by The Great American Road Trip Inc., a nonprofit organization. According to statements from Duffy and his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, the nonprofit covered all production costs. Duffy stated that he and his family received no salary or royalties for their participation.
The nonprofit received sponsorships from Boeing, Shell, Toyota, United Airlines, and Royal Caribbean. These companies are regulated by or interact with the Department of Transportation (DOT).
A spokesperson for the DOT stated that celebrating the 250th anniversary through the show is part of Secretary Duffy's official duties.
The spokesperson added that the department covered Duffy's flights for official government engagements, but that no taxpayer funds were spent on his family. Duffy stated that career ethics and budget officials at the DOT reviewed and approved his participation and individual travel in accordance with federal rules.
Timeline and Context
Duffy said the trip was intended to encourage families to travel and to celebrate America's 250th birthday. The filming and travel occurred between February and April 2025. This period overlapped with several notable events:
- A partial government shutdown that led to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staffing shortages and long airport wait times.
- An incident in April 2025 at New York City's LaGuardia Airport where an Air Canada jet collided with a fire truck, resulting in the deaths of two pilots. The incident remains under federal investigation.
- A period of rising gas and jet fuel prices. The average gas price was reported at over $4.50 per gallon, attributed in part to the US-Israel conflict with Iran disrupting the oil industry. These rising costs contributed to the financial difficulties of Spirit Airlines.
Reactions and Criticism
The project has drawn criticism from several public figures and ethics watchdogs.
Chasten Buttigieg, husband of former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, criticized the trip on social media, describing it as a "multi-month, taxpayer-funded family road trip while gas and grocery prices soar."
Pete Buttigieg, the former Transportation Secretary, called the series "brutally out of touch," stating that regular families cannot afford road trips due to gas prices.
Donald K. Sherman, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, stated that the show raises questions about the use of government time and industry influence, and that government rules require employees to decline gifts that could cause a reasonable person to question their impartiality.
Several Democratic governors also criticized the timing of the series.
Responses from the Department and Supporters
A Transportation Department spokesperson defended the project, stating that critics "should sit this one out" and blamed previous policies for high gas prices.
Duffy argued that critics opposed celebrating America and teaching civics. The series received support from some Republican officials and country musician John Rich, who wrote the theme song.
Background on Participants
Before his political career, Sean Duffy was a cast member on MTV's "The Real World: Boston" and "Road Rules: All Stars," where he met his wife. Rachel Campos-Duffy is a Fox News host.