The former Wisconsin congressman has promised safer Boeing planes, less regulation and help for U.S. companies developing self-driving cars.

Mr. Duffy, a former congressman who had appeared on track to sail through with little opposition, overcame a last-minute swell of Democratic anger over the White House’s sweeping funding freeze.

Sean Duffy has been officially sworn in as the new US Secretary of the Department of Transportation after receiving bipartisan approval in a Senate vote.