WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect

Donald Trump said on Monday that he is nominating former

Wisconsin Representative Sean Duffy, now a Fox News host, to be

transportation secretary.

If confirmed, Duffy will oversee aviation, automotive, rail,

transit and other transportation policies at the department with

about a $110 billion budget as well as significant funding that

remains under the Biden administration's 2021 $1 trillion

infrastructure law and EV charging stations.

Trump has vowed to reverse the Biden administration's

vehicle emissions rules. He has said he plans to begin the

process of undoing the Biden administration's stringent

emissions regulations finalized earlier this year as soon as he

takes office. The rules cut tailpipe emissions limits by 50%

from 2026 levels by 2032 and prod automakers to build more EVs.

Duffy will face a number of major transportation issues.

U.S. traffic deaths have fallen this year but still remain

sharply above pre-COVID levels. The fatality rate remains higher

this year than in any pre-pandemic year since 2008. He will face

pressure to ease rules for self-driving cars sought by Tesla and

other automakers.

Trump said Duffy will prioritize "Excellence, Competence,

Competitiveness and Beauty when rebuilding America's highways,

tunnels, bridges and airports. He will ensure our ports and dams

serve our Economy without compromising our National Security."

Duffy will oversee the continuing enhanced oversight of

Boeing ( BA ). The Federal Aviation Administration, which is

part of USDOT, capped production at 38 737 MAX planes per month

in January after a door panel missing four key bolts flew off an

Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 in midair that month, exposing

serious safety issues at Boeing ( BA ). He will also decide whether to

continue the Biden administration's aviation passenger rights

push and whether to approve more airline joint ventures.

Duffy will also be in charge of oversight of companies run

by Elon Musk, who has been closely involved in Trump's

transition.

USDOT is investigating Tesla Autopilot, while the

FAA has proposed to fine SpaceX for violating space license

rules. Musk has called for the resignation of FAA Administrator

Mike Whitaker.

A persistent shortage of controllers has delayed flights

and, at many facilities, while a series of near miss incidents

involving passenger jets have raised safety concerns.

Congress also has been considering significant rail safety

reforms in the aftermath of the February 2023 derailment of a

Norfolk Southern ( NSC ) train in East Palestine, Ohio.