In the midst of a looming government shutdown that could disrupt air traffic nationwide, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy plans to attend a campaign event for his son-in-law. Michael Alfonso, Duffy’s son-in-law, is organizing a meet-and-greet in Wausau, Wisconsin, scheduled for Tuesday. This event, which will feature coffee and pastries, is slated to take place on Veterans Day, a federal holiday. Duffy’s decision to appear has reportedly caused some discontent within President Donald Trump’s circle.

The transportation secretary did not seek approval from the White House for his attendance, according to NOTUS. A source close to the White House criticized the decision as “a world-class stupid decision.” Liberal commentator Ron Filipkowski expressed his disapproval on X, stating, “While our airports are in chaos, the Transportation Secretary is flying to a campaign fundraiser for his son-in-law.”

A spokesperson for the Transportation Department clarified to the Daily Mail that Duffy will attend the event in a personal capacity. The spokesperson emphasized that Duffy’s appearance “does not reflect any official administration position or endorsement.”

The turbulence for Duffy also comes at a time when he’s faced headwinds on multiple fronts. Staffing issues within the secretary’s agency and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are threatening to cause a catastrophic couple of weeks if the government shutdown is not ended. The FAA has warned that 40 airports nationwide will be impacted by funding-related issues starting on Friday.

Duffy said the airline industry will have to slow down by 10 percent earlier this week, and his deputies have noted how the industry is entering uncharted territory. ‘If you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos, you will see mass flight delays,’ Duffy said at a press conference. ‘You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it. ‘We will restrict the airspace when we feel it’s unsafe.’

The reportedly unauthorized trip also comes on the heels of the president re-nominating billionaire tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to become the next NASA administrator – a role currently held by Duffy on an interim basis. Duffy’s angling to keep the NASA role permanently reportedly prompted White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles to reprimand the secretary, telling him to ‘knock it off.’

In Wisconsin, Alfonso is running for a seat that Duffy previously held for the better part of a decade, from 2011 to 2019. The 25-year-old Gen-Z candidate married Evita Duffy, the daughter of the secretary and his Fox News host wife, Rachel Campos Duffy, when he was 22 and fresh out of college.

Alfonso announced his candidacy for Wisconsin’s seventh district last week. Republican Representative Tom Tiffany, who currently represents the district, has announced a bid for governor, leaving the seat without an incumbent in the 2026 midterms. The White House did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail’s request for comment.