Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is under fire after choosing to attend his son-in-law’s campaign fundraiser in Wisconsin while the U.S. air travel system teeters on the brink of chaos.
The controversial trip comes amid the ongoing government shutdown, which threatens to halt air traffic nationwide.
Federal Aviation Administration officials have warned that 40 airports will be impacted by funding-related issues starting Friday.
“While our airports are in chaos, the Transportation Secretary is flying to a campaign fundraiser for his son-in-law,” liberal pundit Ron Filipkowski wrote on X, calling the decision reckless.
The event, a meet-and-greet in Wausau, Wisconsin, is hosted by Michael Alfonso, Duffy’s son-in-law and a new candidate for Congress. It’s scheduled for Veterans Day and includes coffee and pastries.
One source close to the White House labeled Duffy’s decision a “world-class stupid decision,” noting that the secretary failed to get approval from the administration before scheduling the appearance.
A Transportation Department spokesperson said Duffy is attending in a personal capacity and that his presence “does not reflect any official administration position or endorsement.”
Duffy’s move comes at a critical time for U.S. air travel.
The FAA has warned that a 10 percent slowdown in airline operations could impact the system within days, with potential mass cancellations and restricted airspace, according to the Daily Mail.
“If you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos, you will see mass flight delays,” Duffy said earlier this week. “You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it. We will restrict the airspace when we feel it’s unsafe.”
The secretary’s trip also follows tensions over his interim role at NASA. Duffy is currently serving in an interim capacity while billionaire tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman has been nominated as the permanent administrator.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles reportedly reprimanded Duffy, telling him to “knock it off” amid concerns that he is angling to secure the role permanently.
Alfonso, 25, announced his candidacy for Wisconsin’s seventh district last week.
The seat is open after the current Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany announced a gubernatorial bid. Alfonso married Evita Duffy, the secretary’s daughter, when he was 22, shortly after finishing college.
Duffy previously represented the district for much of the 2010s, holding the seat from 2011 to 2019. Now he is stepping into a campaign role for his family while the nation’s air travel system faces unprecedented disruption.
Critics say the timing of the trip is tone-deaf and undermines public confidence in the administration’s handling of transportation. Supporters argue that it is a personal matter and that Duffy is not using government resources to attend the event.
The fallout underscores the challenges the Trump administration faces in maintaining oversight during a government shutdown. With millions of travelers potentially affected and airlines bracing for delays, Duffy’s decision to prioritize family politics over national transportation stability has drawn sharp criticism.
Some insiders suggest the trip reflects Duffy’s broader ambitions and his willingness to bend protocol for personal and political gain.
“While our airports are in chaos, the Transportation Secretary is flying to a campaign fundraiser,” one White House source said bluntly. “It’s a world-class stupid move.”
