U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy looks at U.S. President Donald Trump on the day an announcement is made on Freedom Haulers, an initiative to open pathways for military veterans to become commercial truck drivers, during an event at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 30, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
A multi-billion-dollar natural gas export company just made its first and only federal political donation ever, and it landed squarely in the pocket of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's son-in-law.
Fairwood Peninsula Energy handed $125,000 in May to Northwoods Future PAC, a super PAC boosting Michael Alfonso's bid for Duffy's old Wisconsin congressional seat, according to FEC records reviewed by Politico. Alfonso faces a crowded primary Tuesday and has previously drawn scrutiny for scooping up transportation-industry PAC money despite having zero background in transportation policy.
The timing raises alarm because Fairwood's subsidiary, Delfin LNG, received a license in March 2025 from Duffy's own Department of Transportation to build a deepwater export terminal — a project Delfin publicly thanked Duffy for helping push through. As transportation secretary, Duffy holds the power to revoke that very license, which three environmental groups already tried and failed to challenge in court.
Public Citizen energy program director Tyson Slocum called the arrangement a clear conflict of interest, arguing Duffy should recuse himself from any further decisions touching the project. “Delfin’s entire business model relies upon some DOT approvals, because it’s an offshore terminal,” said Slocum.
Alfonso's campaign brushed off the criticism.
"Michael answers only to the people of Wisconsin's 7th District," campaign manager William Blathras said.
The pro-Alfonso super PAC also received $1 million directly from Duffy's own former campaign account. A DOT spokesperson defended the department's broader approach, framing the Delfin approval as part of President Trump's push to "unleash America's energy dominance" after what officials described as years of Biden-era obstruction of fossil fuel projects.
Neither Delfin, the PAC, nor Fairwood's CEO responded to requests for comment from Politico.
Duffy has also come under scrutiny for his taxpayer-funded "Great American Road Trip," billed as a huge reality show spectacle to spark patriotic sentiment around America's 250th anniversary, yet the festivities have come and gone with no sign of the show coming out.