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The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today held a hearing with Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy, whose testimony ranged from the Trump Administration’s efforts to modernize the air traffic control (ATC) system, priorities for a surface transportation reauthorization, the importance of streamlining infrastructure project delivery, the need to strengthen American shipbuilding, and more.

T&I Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) began the hearing by highlighting the funding Congress provided for ATC modernization in H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), as well the Committee’s ongoing work on the surface transportation bill:

Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-NC) asked Secretary Duffy if he could elaborate on the Administration’s priorities for the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization. Among the priorities he noted were a focus on innovation, an emphasis on cost-effectiveness, and the efficiency with which projects are delivered. “There’s too many stories across your districts about the timeframe that it takes to build a project because of all the requirements that are put around the money that’s given for the specific project.”

Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Webster (R-FL) asked the Secretary specifically about the importance of streamlining the infrastructure project approval process as the Committee develops a surface transportation bill.  Duffy responded that it’s critically important: “When 30, 40 percent of the cost of a project can be with consultants and permitting, we’re losing valuable dollars.”

Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX) asked Duffy to elaborate on the Administration’s prioritization of providing an adequate amount of safe and accessible truck parking – also a priority for many Committee Members.

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) invited the Secretary to discuss his ongoing efforts to modernize the ATC system, at which point Duffy thanked the U.S. House for providing the $12.5 billion down payment in the OBBBA for DOT’s modernization plan. Duffy said, “The American people, the Congress, the DOT, the President, the FAA – we’re all on the same page of making this a reality because failure is not an option right now.”

Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) asked the Secretary to explain how DOT has carried out the President’s request for fiscal audits at every agency and to counter the fear-mongering by some about DOT’s infrastructure project reviews. Duffy’s response highlighted the numerous new project criteria for green and social justice requirements, for example, that were put in place by the Biden Administration rather than by Congress.  He noted further that pulling back some of these Biden-era requirements will allow more available funding to actually go toward building projects.

Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Mike Ezell (R-MS) highlighted how the bipartisan Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 4275), which the Committee approved yesterday 60 to 0, will support the President’s emphasis on strengthening American shipbuilding.  Duffy underscored the importance of this goal and getting “back in the game of controlling and owning our seas.”

Rep. Kim King-Hinds (R-MP) asked the Secretary to set the record straight about whether the Administration has fired any air traffic controllers, as well has discuss his efforts to supercharge controller hiring. Duffy stated, “We have not fired any air traffic controllers, they are critical safety positions…. We are making great strides. This year we are on track to hit 2,000 controllers coming out of the Academy.”

Rep. Addison McDowell (R-NC) noted the Trump Administration’s commitment to not forgetting about disaster-stricken rural areas of the country like western North Carolina and Kerr County, Texas.

Click here for more information from today’s hearing, including video and witness testimony.