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Duffy Drives Home Agenda Highlights at Car Show
In Trump Administration’s Second Year, DOT to Amplify Safety Efforts
Key Takeaways:
- Duffy says DOT resources are primarily directed to protect motorists.
- Department is also focused on enhancing existing infrastructure with emerging safety technologies.
- Secretary points to enforcing ELP rules while shutting down CDL mills.
WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy chose the annual new-car showcase in the nation’s capital to review successes notched during his first year on the job, and outlined a vision for what lies ahead as the Trump administration’s second year commences.
In a high-profile public briefing for an audience of mostly automotive executives and industry stakeholders, the secretary speaking from the Washington, D.C., auto show explained that while the Department of Transportation’s resources are directed to primarily protect motorists, enhancing existing infrastructure with emerging safety technologies is another key department priority.
“I care about everyone’s safety. I care about all kinds of things,” Duffy said during his wide-ranging keynote remarks. “But how can we have smart policy that allows America to become unleashed and be as productive and innovative as possible?”
He added, “I think about safety all the time. How can we drive safety? How can we lose less lives on our roads?”
In December the department announced nearly $1 billion for programs intended to improve safety along major corridors. The funding came in response to federal data that found more than 40,000 individuals annually are dying in motor vehicle crashes.
Great time speaking at the @WashAutoShow especially when affordability is at the top of everyone’s minds.
Under @POTUS, we believe FREEDOM MEANS AFFORDABLE CARS!
We are resetting the standards so manufacturers can build cars the American people want🇺🇸🚘 pic.twitter.com/ipSelUM4E8 — Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) January 23, 2026
Also last month, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced grants for critical resources to state and local agencies aimed at reducing crashes via data-driven enforcement.
“These grants are about giving our partners the tools they need to be effective,” said FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs. “Whether it’s deploying smart technology to identify unsafe vehicles, auditing [commercial driver license] programs to prevent fraud, every dollar is focused on raising the bar for safety and ensuring only qualified drivers and compliant vehicles are on our roads.”
First Anniversary
To mark the first year of Trump’s second term, the secretary pointed to a comprehensive DOT agenda designed to modernize infrastructure, unleash innovation and improve safety. Specific to the trucking industry, the department’s safety agenda led to removing more than 11,500 commercial drivers who failed to meet English proficiency standards, shutting down 7,500 CDL training schools that failed to meet the administration’s readiness standards and securing English proficiency compliance across 49 states.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, our department’s No. 1 mission is to ensure that every American gets home safely,” said Duffy. “We’re backing aggressive enforcement and empowering states to keep unqualified, unvetted drivers off the road, investing in state-of-the-art technology to make our roads safer, and taking care of veterans interested in a career in trucking.”
In October, Duffy said, “This is a fundamental safety issue that impacts you and your family on America’s roads.”
He has used the threat of withholding federal transportation funds from states that do not comply with DOT directives on English-language proficiency and non-domiciled CDLs and commercial driver permits. “I put states on notice this summer: Enforce the Trump administration’s English-language requirements or the checks stop coming,” he said.
