DRIVING THE NEWS: Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Crisscrosses Hawkeye State, Touts Major Wins for Iowa Airports, Transit Systems, & Truckers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today joined Iowa Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) and Zach Nunn (IA-03) in Iowa to highlight how the Trump Administration is delivering major transportation wins for communities across the state. During the visit, Secretary Duffy toured key Iowa transportation hubs–including the Des Moines Airport, DART Bus Facility and I-80 (World’s Largest Truck Stop).
“This Administration cares about enhancing the travel experience for Iowa families,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “That means everything from investing millions to overhaul DSM’s air traffic control system to supporting family friendly infrastructure in the terminal. Iowans are lucky to have a representative in Congress as passionate as Zach Nunn who fought hard to pass the Working Families Tax Cut and make these critical investments a reality.”
Secretary Duffy first joined Congressman Nunn to tour the new terminal construction at Des Moines Airport—a project set to double its commercial flight capacity. Supported by a $6 million USDOT investment, the upgraded terminal will feature expanded security lines, sensory rooms, and calming spaces to improve the family travel experience. Thanks to the Working Families Tax Cut, the Trump Administration is also delivering $26 million to modernize the airport’s air traffic control system.
"Iowans deserve an airport and a transit system that are safe, modern, and built for the families who depend on them," said Iowa Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03). "Secretary Duffy has been a true partner in getting it done, and the federal dollars we secured together are already going to work in our communities to make travel safer and easier for families across central Iowa."
The Secretary and Congressman also visited a brand-new bus maintenance facility that will make the city’s public transit more efficient and reliable for Des Moines residents. Secretary Duffy and the Federal Transit Administration recently awarded the city a $20 million grant to support additional upgrades to this vital transit system that moves 800,000 Iowans every day.
“It was a privilege to be in the heartland of America and talk about how Iowa feeds and fuels the world,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “From cracking down on dangerous foreign drivers who can’t speak English to pushing for common sense permitting reform, the Congresswoman has been a fantastic partner as we work to usher in a Golden Age of Transportation.”
Afterwards, Secretary Duffy joined Congresswoman Miller-Meeks and Governor Kim Reynolds at the Iowa 80 Truckstop to meet with local representatives and members of the trucking community. The group discussed how the Trump Administration is standing up for American truckers and cracking down on dangerous foreign drivers wreaking havoc on our roads before touring I-80’s historic museum that attracts 6,000 visitors a day.
"Iowa feeds and fuels this country, and America's truckers are the backbone of it all. Every single day, these hardworking men and women keep our supply chains moving, our shelves stocked, and our economy strong," said Congresswoman Miller-Meeks. "I am grateful to Secretary Duffy for coming to Iowa to see that firsthand. There is no better place to have this conversation than right here in Walcott, at the largest truck stop in the world."
Last summer, the Trump Administration unveiled a package of new initiatives, pilot programs, and regulatory updates designed to improve the lives of America’s truck drivers. The package includes millions to expand truck parking as well as initiatives to remove one-size-fits-all mandates, modernize driver resources, slash red tape, and crack down on bad actors. A more detailed breakdown on the package can be found here.