Revealing Exchange Erupts Over America 250 Road Trip Controversy

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]A half a million dollars paid by the trial bar to fly you on a private jet.

[00:00:04]I've never been on a private jet. Is that air? I I don't never been on a private jet.

[00:00:08]>> 162,000 dollars We don't Members of Congress >> Tonight on the controversy desk, a Senate hearing erupts into a stunning political showdown as Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy clash over ethics, corporate sponsorships, and a controversial America 250 road trip project.

[00:00:29]Senator Gillibrand >> So Mr. Secretary, you and I have talked at length about your approach towards transportation. You want certain things out of different states in order to fund certain things. So you and I have talked about Second Avenue Subway. That's finally in compliance and that is going forward. Right now, Gateway Tunnel is under review. What's the status of that review and when do you think it'll be completed? So the the the resources are flowing to both of those projects and you know, we we were doing a review on race-based contracting versus merit contracting.

[00:00:59]The Supreme Court indicated projects couldn't do that and that happened during the shutdown. I only had one staff in the civil rights office. So it did take more time and then once the staff did come back, there was a backlog in the office. So but the money is flowing to both of those projects and Gateway is the I mean I guess it's probably the the biggest project in the Western Hemisphere. Correct. So when do you think the review will be done? If not done now, shortly. Shortly. Okay. I will hold you to that shortly cuz obviously it is such an important economic project for the entire Eastern Seaboard and the entire nation.

[00:01:31]And we don't want more delays because we know that when you have delays, costs increase. So >> But but it's not delayed now. Money is going to the project. Okay. So now I want to talk to you about something that is less easy. Um I saw your ad.

[00:01:44]You want to go fast. I saw that.

[00:01:46]But I did not like the fact that you bragged about cutting funding to New York. That sounded like a political argument that is not a very nice thing to say about a state that has 20 million people that need to get to work every day on critical infrastructure. So, I don't like that quote in your ad. I thought that was a very inappropriate thing to say.

[00:02:08]I also do not like your Great American Road Trip.

[00:02:11]And I get you have experience in that. I get you want to promote American how beautiful and amazing it is. I get all the good reasons why you wanted to do that. And I get it's time with your family, all those things.

[00:02:24]I don't like it because right now in New York, people are suffering. They are extremely stressed out. They're stressed out about the cost of gas, which has gone up by 50% under this administration. They're cost about They're upset about the cost of everyday household goods. They're upset about the cost of groceries and housing and health care. So, their stresses. I don't think they're going to get to go on that Great American Vacation that they'd like to go on. I think a lot of families are not actually going on vacation this summer.

[00:02:48]And when I went and met with a bunch of gas stations across my state just a couple days ago, uh the cost of well over $4 a gallon in every gas station, uh $5 a gallon, over $6 a gallon for diesel. It's extremely stressful. And I don't like the fact that this Great American Vacation reality TV show took days and days of filming. I don't like the fact that it was paid for by companies that you have to oversee, companies that you work with. And in our jobs, that would be pay-for-play.

[00:03:19]It would be 100% illegal. It would be inappropriate on every level uh and not tolerated. And in this era where President Trump's spending money building a golden ballroom that we don't need, that he's spending a billion dollars a day on bombs that people would far rather he be spending on health care or housing, this Great American Road Trip it doesn't smell right. It may be fast, but it's fast and loose with the rules.

[00:03:44]I don't like it. I think it's wrong and I think you should explain to the American people why you should spend your time and why you should be getting a vacation that is paid for by companies that you regulate. I think those things are highly problematic and it makes me extremely anxious because the American people and New Yorkers in particular probably can't afford their vacation this summer at all.

[00:04:05]So I I appreciate that Senator. Um first off uh in the ad we were in the you got a lot you said a lot can I unpack some of the allegations that you made? First in regard to um New York uh we've asked uh for all states to uh revoke illegally issued driver's licenses. Every state has complied but New York. And we have tools to pull money from New York and we did. California even complied. But the point is but Mr. Duffy Secretary Duffy, I don't mind that you have rules and that you have a different way of doing the Department of Transportation. What I mind is that you bragged about it and made a joke about it.

[00:04:37]>> I'm also Mr. Senator do you want me to do you want me to answer the question?

[00:04:40]>> to demean an entire state by that joke.

[00:04:42]So we're going to give $8 billion to rebuild Penn Station. Is that a joke?

[00:04:46]No. But No that you you'd welcome that right? And I've asked for your subways to be cleaner. WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS. YOU GOT THAT money cuz we give it to you from New Yorkers.

[00:04:54]>> a choice where to put it and you give me that you give me that discretion. We also appropriate money that then you don't grant. So we we are the appropriators not you. We appropriate the money. You're supposed to spend it.

[00:05:04]Sometimes you choose not to and we have to file lawsuits to get you to spend the money.

[00:05:08]>> allegations you don't want Can I respond? Do you want to respond to or just if you want to take all your time is up but if you want to just sit and you know vent or want me to respond you let me know.

[00:05:15]>> about the Great American vacation. The Great American Road Trip?

[00:05:17]>> Yes. Let's talk about it. This is a project Senator and I want to encourage Americans to see their beautiful country. And as we can see from this hearing there's a lot of partisanship in America. This seeing your country experiencing your country through the window of a car is a beautiful thing. It actually unites America. Maybe spending time with your children is a wonderful experience.

[00:05:33]>> a wonderful thing but your vacation was paid for by Boeing, Toyota, United Airlines, Enterprise, Shell, Royal Caribbean Group. All organizations and companies >> you want me to respond to you? Can I respond?

[00:05:44]But you're you're You're you're responding with platitudes and it's not >> I'm I'm telling you what I'm telling you what the project was. Okay? 2 days, quickly in and out, and I did film the Great American Road Trip to encourage Americans to travel. I'll answer your question. Mhm. So, this was officially part of uh America 250, and you all sanctioned America 250. This is is an official partner of No, it's an official partner of America 250. Also, this body told me that I'm supposed to promote tourism and travel, and that's what it does as well. Now, hold on a second.

[00:06:11]Now, you you're making And it shouldn't be paid for by people that you have oversight you that you oversee. Can I respond to that? Oh, sorry. I didn't realize. So, if I could respond, um this was a partnership with a nonprofit.

[00:06:23]It was a nonprofit, and the nonprofit >> Funded by organizations and companies that you oversee.

[00:06:27]Do you have jurisdiction over law firms?

[00:06:32]So, you received $7 million in political contributions >> Honestly, this has nothing to do with members of Congress. This has to do with the fact that you went on a paid vacation that was paid by companies that you oversee. $7 million from the trial bar. You have jurisdiction. You have jurisdiction on the trial bar. $7 million. Why don't we go down the list of what else you received? You have jurisdiction. You actually passed legislation for the trial bar. This hearing is about you and this administration.

[00:06:59]This hearing You are the witness. I am not the witness. I don't have I don't have I don't have any Well, you maybe you should be. Well, you know what?

[00:07:04]Secretary >> should answer the question for $7 million Secretary Secretary Chao Chao Chao Chao Chao Chao Chao Chao Chao $7 million. I think you should be telling this committee That goes to the ad on television in your That's That's all to you. You spend that money. This is what I'm concerned about.

[00:07:16]You are political, and you are using your position in political ways.

[00:07:20]A half a million dollars paid by the trial bar to fly you on a private jet.

[00:07:24]I've never been on a private jet. Zina Air. I I don't >> Zina Air. Never been on a private jet.

[00:07:28]>> $162,000 by THE TRIAL BAR.

[00:07:31]SO, WHAT they paid YOU TO FLY NOT TRUE. It is. Not true. Answer to that. You know what, Mr. Secretary? Your job >> your your face on television. Your job >> on television, your steak dinners, your vacations by the trial bar. I make no apologies >> to go to Senator Cantwell recognize you for your This hearing rapidly shifted from transportation policy into a revealing political confrontation over ethics, accountability, and public perception inside government. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand sharply challenged Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over his involvement in the Great American Road Trip, a promotional project tied to America 250 that featured corporate sponsorships from companies connected to industries regulated by the Department of Transportation. What began as a discussion about infrastructure funding quickly evolved into a broader argument about whether government officials should participate in projects financially supported by corporations connected to their agencies.

[00:08:26]Gillibrand's criticism focused heavily on the timing and optics of the project.

[00:08:30]She argued that millions of Americans are currently struggling with rising fuel costs, expensive groceries, housing pressures, and overall economic uncertainty. Against that backdrop, she questioned whether it was appropriate for a government official to appear in what she described as a vacation-style promotional campaign funded by major corporations. Gillibrand repeatedly emphasized concerns about accountability and warned that the arrangement creates the appearance of political favoritism and blurred ethical boundaries between public office and corporate interests.

[00:09:03]Sean Duffy strongly defended both the project and his role in it. According to Duffy, the Road Trip initiative was part of the official America 250 celebration designed to encourage tourism, patriotism, and national unity. He argued that promoting travel and showcasing the country aligns directly with responsibilities assigned to the Department of Transportation. Duffy also pushed back aggressively against Gillibrand's accusations, accusing her of politicizing the issue while pointing to campaign contributions received by members of Congress from industries they oversee. That response immediately escalated tensions and turned the hearing into a direct personal confrontation. The exchange became increasingly heated as both sides interrupted one another and accused the other of hypocrisy. Gillibrand insisted that public officials should avoid even the appearance of conflicts involving regulated industries, while Duffy argued that lawmakers themselves routinely interact financially with industries connected to their committees and legislative responsibilities. The confrontation reflected a much larger national debate about ethics standards in government, corporate influence in politics, and whether Americans can still trust that public officials are acting independently rather than advancing political branding or personal visibility. By the end of the hearing, the debate had moved far beyond transportation or tourism promotion. The clash became symbolic of deeper political frustrations surrounding accountability, leadership, and public trust in Washington. Gillibrand framed the issue as one of ethical responsibility during a difficult economic period, while Duffy portrayed the criticism as politically motivated attacks against a patriotic initiative.

[00:10:45]Regardless of political perspective, the hearing exposed how quickly congressional oversight sessions can transform into broader battles over influence, perception, and the increasingly blurred lines between politics, media, and government power in America today.