Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed that he is “ready to catch my breath” as he prepares for a transition following President-elect Trump’s upcoming administration. Trump has appointed former Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.), who gained notoriety from MTV’s “Real World” and later worked as a Fox Business host, to succeed Buttigieg.
In an interview with USA Today, Buttigieg shared his thoughts about the future for himself and his husband, Chasten. “I love this job, but it is very 24/7, so I’m ready to catch my breath. I’m ready to spend more time with our kids,” he stated.
Secretary Buttigieg looks forward to family time as he hands over the reins to Duffy
While he was considered a potential running mate for Vice President Harris, Buttigieg mentioned that he hasn’t made “any big life decisions” and intends to wait until he can slow down.
Interest from Democrats in Michigan is already forming regarding Buttigieg as a candidate for the 2026 race to succeed term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D). Additionally, with eyes on the 2028 presidential election, Buttigieg, who previously ran for the presidency in 2020, is expected to remain part of the conversation.
In the coming months, he anticipates rejoining the “traveling public” and getting “reacquainted with TSA checkpoints.” Reflecting on his tenure as Biden’s Transportation Secretary, Buttigieg expressed pride in the automatic flight refund rule, which he noted resulted in “concrete results” and financial benefits for Americans.
He warned that there would be “real consequences” if Trump attempted to reverse this policy. He identified the infrastructure package as the most remarkable legacy of his past four years, highlighting its funding for critical projects nationwide, including renovations for 1,500 airports.
Buttigieg also pointed out the progress made in addressing the increase in roadway deaths. While acknowledging there is still much work to be done, he noted that his department has successfully reduced the number of roadway fatalities for nine consecutive quarters.
