1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to express my formal concern regarding the documented conflict of interest involving Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy. While Americans are navigating a period of severe economic volatility, including high fuel costs and critical infrastructure challenges, Secretary Duffy has reportedly spent parts of the last nine months filming a reality television series, The Great American Road Trip.  Data confirms that the production and travel costs for this project were financed by a 501(c)4 nonprofit, Great American Road Trip Inc., which is funded by major entities including Boeing, Toyota, Shell, and United Airlines. This arrangement represents a failure of institutional competency and a violation of the principle of administrative neutrality for the following reasons:  - Documented Regulatory Conflict: The corporations sponsoring Secretary Duffy’s personal media project are the very entities his department is statutorily required to oversee. Accepting travel, lodging, and production services—valued at up to $1 million per sponsorship—from regulated industries creates an inherent conflict of interest. This arrangement directly undermines public confidence in the DOT’s ability to impartially enforce multimodal transportation safety, corporate consumer protections, and critical infrastructure oversight. - Abuse of Official Position: Federal ethics guidelines prohibit officials from using their position for private gain or the endorsement of private enterprises. Using the authority of the DOT to partner with a privately funded media initiative, led by industry lobbyists, suggests a pivot from public service to corporate promotion.  - Misappropriation of Taxpayer Resources: While the administration asserts that no public funds were used for the Secretary’s family, department-subsidized funds were reportedly used to facilitate the Secretary’s own travel to and from these production sites. Utilizing public resources and staff time to support a privately sponsored promotional venture represents a direct misappropriation of government funds. Taxpayer dollars must not be used to subsidize travel for private boondoggles that serve no legitimate public interest. The integrity of our federal agencies depends on their independence from corporate influence and the responsible use of public funds. I urge you to use your Article I oversight authority to: 1. Demand a full audit by the DOT Office of Inspector General into all travel arrangements and industry-sponsored gifts related to this production. 2. Investigate the vetting process that allowed a regulator to enter a financial partnership with regulated stakeholders. 3. Exercise the Power of the Purse to ensure that DOT appropriations are never utilized for non-essential, promotional media ventures. I will be monitoring your record on this issue as a direct measure of your commitment to fiscal accountability and the rule of law.