A heated exchange erupted online between a member of President Trump’s administration, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The confrontation began when Duffy praised Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for helping to upgrade aviation systems in response to two deadly plane crashes during his tenure. Clinton, however, criticized Duffy’s leadership, claiming the department had “deteriorated” under his watch and questioning the lack of relevant experience among DOGE personnel.

In response, Duffy dismissed Clinton’s accusations, arguing that it was experienced Washington bureaucrats, not the young staff at DOGE, who were responsible for the nation’s crumbling infrastructure. He further accused the Clintons of being involved in “extreme grifting” through USAID, citing Musk’s team uncovering alleged corruption. Duffy emphasized that his team was committed to restoring safety and using innovative technology to improve transportation, even if that meant bringing in younger personnel.

This exchange occurred amid ongoing concerns about transportation safety under the Biden-Harris administration, including rail accidents and issues with Boeing’s aircraft and Starliner spacecraft. Duffy, who had committed to improving aviation safety during his Senate confirmation, reiterated his intention to restore confidence in Boeing and ensure safe skies. He also supported an investigation into Tesla’s advanced driving technology by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The back-and-forth continued with a senior Biden administration official pushing back against Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s attempt to blame Trump for a deadly train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The official corrected Buttigieg’s claim, stating that Norfolk Southern, the rail carrier responsible for the accident, was at fault, not Trump.