DOT ethics questions trail Duffy road show to under 600 views

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's new reality TV series, "The Great American Road Trip," premiered on YouTube on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, drawing immediate scrutiny over its corporate funding and low viewership. The six-episode series follows Duffy, his wife Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy, and seven of their nine children on a cross-country journey intended to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.

The show's production was funded by a nonprofit, The Great American Road Trip Inc., with corporate sponsors including Boeing, Toyota, Shell, United Airlines, Royal Caribbean, and others. A disclaimer before each episode states that no taxpayer dollars were used. However, the sponsors are companies regulated by the Department of Transportation, leading to ethics concerns. Democratic senators have called on the DOT inspector general to investigate, alleging Duffy accepted travel expenses from a nonprofit funded by entities he oversees. At a congressional hearing in May, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand stated, "I don't like the fact that it was paid for by companies that you have to oversee." Duffy has maintained that no taxpayer money was used and that the show is wholesome...