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Sean Duffy

The latest news and top stories on Sean Duffy. He currently serves as the 20th United States Secretary of Transportation, appointed by President Donald Trump in January 2025. Previously, he was a US Representative for Wisconsin’s 7th congressional district from 2011 to 2019 and District Attorney of Ashland County Wisconsin. His responsibilities as Transportation Secretary include overseeing national infrastructure, aviation systems and regulatory changes. Duffy has pledged to prioritise air traffic safety, restore confidence in Boeing and reform fuel economy standards. He also had a career as a Fox News contributor and reality television personality.

China Future Tech briefing

Aerospace | Lunar race pits China against US as humans seek return to moon

China and the US are vying to put people on the moon for the first time in more than 50 years in a contest that is as much about economics and geopolitics as it is about technology.

18 Dec 2025 - 4:07PM

Sean Duffy

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Aerospace | Lunar race pits China against US as humans seek return to moon

China and the US are vying to put people on the moon for the first time in more than 50 years in a contest that is as much about economics and geopolitics as it is about technology.

Trump administration scraps Biden’s airline compensation plan

Bezos’ Blue Origin launches huge rocket for milestone Mars mission

End of shutdown starts long process of rebooting the US government

US agencies face backlogs to resume normal operations, while billions in losses may never be recouped.

Trump threatens unpaid US air traffic controllers over shutdown absences

US president threatens to ‘dock’ pay of controllers who miss work, while promising US$10,000 bonuses for those who don’t.

Shutdown chaos could see US air travel fall to a ‘trickle’, transport secretary warns

Thousands more flights cancelled or delayed as passengers face chaos triggered by the federal government shutdown.

38-day US government shutdown far worse than expected: Hassett

White House adviser Kevin Hassett told reporters he expects an economic recovery after the government reopens, but did not declare a recession.

US cuts over 1,000 flights due to shutdown, with Thanksgiving just weeks away

Forty airports are affected, including major hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.

Engine fell off UPS cargo plane before Kentucky crash that killed 12

Investigators say the left engine detached during take-off, leading to Tuesday’s fatal crash in Louisville.

US cutting 10% of flights in ‘high-volume’ markets as shutdown drags on

Extraordinary measure is expected to impact thousands of daily flights during what is now the longest US government shutdown in history.

Trump blames ‘kamikaze’ Democrats for longest ever government shutdown

The Republican president told a breakfast meeting at the White House that the Democrats would ‘take down the country if they have to’.

US government shutdown becomes longest in history

Shutdown has disrupted the lives of millions of Americans with federal programme cuts, flight delays and workers going without pay.

Trump again nominates Musk ally Isaacman to be Nasa chief

The billionaire private astronaut was renominated six months after the US president withdrew his initial choice amid a bitter row with Elon Musk.

‘Mass chaos’: shutdown may force US to close some airspace

Trump transport chief Sean Duffy warned of major flight delays and cancellations, as the shutdown enters its 35th day.

‘Won’t be extorted’: Trump vows no negotiation as US shutdown nears record

US president blames Democrats, pushes Republicans to change Senate rules as the US government shutdown drags on.

Nearly 7,000 US flights delayed in a day as controller absences surge in shutdown

Staffing shortages are cited in delays at major hubs as the US government shutdown nears the one-month mark.

Nasa opens US moon landing contract to rival bidders as SpaceX lags

Citing SpaceX delays, the US space agency is shifting strategy and inviting new proposals for a high-profile crewed moon mission.

US tightens trucker licence rules for non-US citizens after fatal crashes

The drastic change means roughly 190,000 non-US citizens who currently hold a commercial licence would not be eligible under the new rules.

Speckled rocks ‘clearest sign’ yet of ancient life on Mars, Nasa says

Scientists found vivianite and greigite in Martian rock; on Earth, these minerals are known to be formed by microbial life.

Nasa blocks Chinese citizens with US visas from its facilities

As race to the moon heats up, space agency spokeswoman says move is to ‘ensure the security of our work’.

US crime debate intensifies after Ukrainian refugee’s murder on train

Killing surged into the spotlight after Republican lawmakers promoted CCTV video of the incident.

What does SpaceX’s Starship test success mean for the US-China moon race?

The near-flawless flight revives hopes for Nasa’s Artemis III plans for 2027 but analysts warn Chinese momentum could win lunar prize.

Trump administration seizes control of Washington’s Union Station from Amtrak

This is the latest example of the federal government exerting its power over the nation’s capital, where it deployed National Guard troops.

US stops visas for truck drivers after crash involving Indian man kills 3

The move came after a truck driver was charged with killing three people on a highway in Florida while making an illegal U-turn.

Apollo 13 commander James Lovell dies at 97

The Nasa astronaut turned around a moon mission that nearly ended in disaster but instead inspired a Hollywood blockbuster.

US proposes new drone rules that could lead to Starbucks, Amazon deliveries

Under current rules, operators need to get individual waivers or exemptions to use drones without visual line of sight.

US speeds up moon reactor plans amid space competition with China

Nasa’s new acting head accelerates construction of a nuclear fission reactor for lunar power by 2030.

Astronauts launch for space station after being sidelined by Starliner woes

Catching a ride in a SpaceX capsule, a US-Japanese-Russian crew of four rocketed from Nasa’s Kennedy Space Centre.

Aerospace | Lunar race pits China against US as humans seek return to moon