Sean Duffy’s “Great American Road Trip” reality series debuts amid ethics concerns

The Department of Transportation released the six-episode series “The Great American Road Trip” on its YouTube channel on a Wednesday. Each half-hour episode follows Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, his wife Rachel Campos-Duffy (co-host of *Fox & Friends*), and their nine children as they travel through seven states—Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Wyoming, Montana, South Carolina, Texas and Arizona. The show is presented as a celebration of America’s 250th birthday and includes visits to historic sites, university campuses, a Boeing factory, a Yellowstone-area wildlife area, and a Waymo self-driving car demonstration.

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The series was slated to premiere in June, timed for the July 4 celebration, but was delayed; a Department of Transportation spokesperson later explained that the nation’s 250th-birthday festivities are “a year-long celebration.”

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• Episodes: 6, each about 30 minutes long.

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• States visited: 7.

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• Sponsoring companies: Boeing, Shell, Toyota, United Airlines, Royal Caribbean, Yellowstone Vacations, CRH Americas, Arizona Office of Tourism, and a Waymo self-driving-car operator.

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• Production funding: The nonprofit Great American Road Trip, Inc. covered all costs—including filming, crew, food, fuel, lodging and activities—and the Department of Transportation accepted the production as a gift, with no taxpayer dollars spent on the family’s participation.

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• May 19 (occurred): Secretary Duffy testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies.

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• June (planned): Original premiere window, intended to precede the July 4 celebration.

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• Wednesday (actual): Release of all six episodes on the DOT YouTube page.

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A Department of Transportation spokesperson reiterated that the production was funded entirely by the nonprofit sponsor and framed the series as part of the broader 250th-birthday commemoration. The on-screen disclaimer reiterated that production costs were a gift to the department and that the family received no compensation.

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Democratic members of Congress raised ethical concerns. Sen. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand argued that accepting sponsorship from companies the department regulates would constitute “pay for play” and would be “illegal… inappropriate on every level.” The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington** called on the DOT inspector general to investigate the series, and five Democratic senators formally requested a probe in June.

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• “There’s nothing more Americana than a road trip,” — Sean Duffy, transportation starring secretary

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• “There is nothing more American than Yellowstone,” — Sean Duffy, transportation starring secretary

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• “Innovation, development all happening in America,” — Sean Duffy, transportation starring secretary

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• “This show is incredibly out of touch with where Americans are,” — Sen. Patty Murray

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• “I don’t like the fact that it was paid for by companies that you have to oversee, companies that you work with,” — Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

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• “I want to encourage Americans to see their beautiful country,” — Sean Duffy, transportation starring secretary

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