Watchdog group urges Transportation IG to investigate Sean Duffy’s family ‘road trip’ series

WASHINGTON, DC: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is facing fresh scrutiny after a watchdog group asked the Department of Transportation’s Inspector General to investigate his participation in the reality series ‘The Great American Road Trip.’

The request, submitted Monday, May 11, by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has intensified criticism surrounding Duffy’s months-long family road trip filmed while serving in office.

Sean Duffy’s reality show road trip sparks ethics questions

The controversy surrounding Duffy intensified after reports revealed he spent seven months filming ‘The Great American Road Trip’ while continuing to serve as Transportation Secretary.

The reality series followed Duffy and his family traveling across the United States in what critics say blurred the line between public service and entertainment.

During public appearances discussing the project, Duffy reportedly said he still managed to do “some work” while filming the cross-country series.

That comment quickly became part of the backlash, with critics questioning whether someone responsible for overseeing national transportation systems should simultaneously be filming a television show.

Watchdog group questions Sean Duffy’s reality show expenses and ethics compliance

The situation drew even more attention because Duffy already had a long history in television before entering politics.

His background in entertainment made the project feel less like a one-time side venture and more like a continuation of his media career while holding a major government position.

CREW urged investigators to determine who paid for the travel tied to the series, whether taxpayer-funded resources were used improperly, and whether Duffy violated any federal ethics rules while participating in the production.

Now, the watchdog group wants investigators to determine whether any federal regulations or laws were violated during the filming process.

Transportation incidents add pressure on Sean Duffy

The criticism surrounding Duffy’s reality-show involvement grew louder after a deadly incident involving a Frontier Airlines aircraft at Denver International Airport.

According to airport officials, the plane, which was headed to Los Angeles, “reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff” late Friday night.

The incident reportedly triggered an engine fire and forced an emergency evacuation of passengers onboard.

Many viewers pointed out that only hours before the accident, Sean Duffy and his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, had appeared on ‘Fox & Friends’ discussing their seven-month road trip across the country.

That timing fueled even more criticism from people who argued transportation safety issues should take precedence over television appearances and reality-show production.

CREW’s request for an Inspector General investigation adds to what had initially been treated online as a bizarre political-media controversy.

The watchdog group specifically asked investigators to review whether Duffy reimbursed any personal expenses tied to the filming and whether taxpayers indirectly funded portions of the travel documented in the show.