Former Republican congressman Sean Duffy has sparked outrage after complaining about lengthy airport queues on social media, despite having supported the very government shutdown that caused the travel disruptions.
The ex-Wisconsin representative, now a Fox News contributor, took to social media to vent his frustration about airport delays during a family trip. "Flying during a government shutdown is brutal," Duffy wrote, accompanied by photos showing crowded airport terminals.
Political Backlash Erupts
The post immediately drew fierce criticism from political opponents and social media users who pointed out Duffy's voting record. During his time in Congress, the former representative consistently supported President Trump's hardline immigration policies that led to the 2018-2019 government shutdown - the longest in US history.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents, along with thousands of other federal employees, were forced to work without pay during the 35-day shutdown, leading to staffing shortages and increased security wait times that Duffy now complains about.
Hypocrisy Called Out
Critics were quick to highlight the irony of Duffy's position. "You voted for this, Sean," wrote one social media user, while others accused him of "blaming the consequences of policies he championed."
The backlash intensified as users shared screenshots of Duffy's previous statements supporting the shutdown strategy to secure border wall funding. His current complaints about the very real-world impacts of that political decision have been labelled as peak political hypocrisy.
Broader Implications for Travelers
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about how political brinkmanship in Washington directly affects ordinary Americans. During the record-breaking shutdown, TSA absentee rates soared to 10%, compared to the usual 3%, creating security bottlenecks and raising safety concerns at airports nationwide.
While federal workers eventually received back pay, the disruption to travel systems and personal finances exposed the human cost of political stalemates that figures like Duffy now find inconvenient as private citizens.
