Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's wife, Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy, pushed back Tuesday against allegations that her husband violated ethics rules by appearing in a reality show sponsored by companies his agency oversees. In a radio interview on SiriusXM's RealClearPolitics, she declared, “My husband is not a corrupt man,” and argued that no one has ever leveled such a charge against him in his political career.
The controversy centers on The Great American Road Trip, a family-focused series that the Duffys filmed while visiting national landmarks. The show has drawn scrutiny from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), which filed a complaint urging the Department of Transportation's inspector general to probe whether the secretary improperly used official time, accepted gifts from regulated companies, or promoted private products. Among the show's sponsors are Toyota, United Airlines, and Boeing—all major players in the transportation sector that fall under DOT's jurisdiction.
CREW's complaint argues that the arrangement “raises questions about whether his official time is being used for public purposes” and whether the Duffys “accepted or solicited gifts from companies with businesses subject to regulation by the Department.” The group also flagged potential misuse of government travel and staff resources.
Duffy and Campos-Duffy have repeatedly maintained that the project was vetted by budget officials and complies with federal ethics standards. A DOT spokesperson, Nathaniel Sizemore, told The Hill that “celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary is part of Secretary Duffy’s official duties,” and that the road trip stops often included official business, such as touring air traffic control towers and assessing port infrastructure. He added that the department covered flights for these engagements.
Campos-Duffy further insisted in a social media post that no one in her family was paid for the show. “We did it for FREE to celebrate America 250 & encourage other Americans to get off couches & screens and spend time together seeing our country,” she wrote, noting the filming took place over seven months in short stops.
The controversy has also drawn sharp criticism from former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and his husband, Chasten. In a social media post Friday, Chasten Buttigieg accused the Duffys of hypocrisy, recalling that they had criticized Pete for working from their son's ICU bedside. “Now they are bragging about their multi-month, taxpayer-funded family road trip while gas and grocery prices soar for American families because of Trump’s war of choice,” he wrote.
The ethics cloud comes amid broader turmoil in the Trump administration, including the ouster of FDA Chief Makary after a clash over e-cigarettes, as reported in Makary Out as FDA Chief, and the naming of a fourth acting FEMA chief, detailed in Trump Names Fourth Acting FEMA Chief. These developments underscore the administration's ongoing struggles with leadership stability.
CREW's complaint specifically asks the DOT inspector general to investigate whether Duffy violated federal ethics laws by participating in a privately sponsored promotional trip with his family. The group also calls for a review of internal controls to prevent future violations. The outcome of the probe could have significant implications for how cabinet members balance official duties with personal media projects.
