Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy promised to improve the nation's transportation infrastructure and systems after Vice President JD Vance swore in Duffy on Wednesday afternoon.

Jerry Dobbins remembers a young Vance growing up in Middletown, decades before he would be sworn in as vice president. Dobbins lived two doors down from Vance's grandmother − affectionately known as "Mamaw" − and he called her a "tough bird" who pushed her grandson to do well and stay out of trouble.

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.