Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's reality series, "Great American Road Trip," launched online Wednesday, featuring prominent American companies that fall under his department's oversight. The six-episode series, commissioned for America's 250th birthday and chronicling the Duffy family's extensive travels, had previously faced ethical backlash upon the release of its trailer in May.

Duffy has stated that taxpayer funds were not used for production, with the series fully financed by a nonprofit organization called The Great American Road Trip Inc. Major corporate sponsors, such as Boeing and Toyota, reportedly contributed at least $1 million each to fund the show. The U.S. Department of Transportation subsequently released all episodes on its YouTube page.

The first episode includes scenes of Duffy, his wife Rachel Campos-Duffy, and their children meeting President Donald Trump in the Oval Office after arriving at the White House in a Toyota. Other segments depict the family with the vehicle, including one where Campos-Duffy is shown wearing merchandise from one of Trump's private golf clubs. The series also features a visit to a Boeing plant in South Carolina, a stop Duffy described as showcasing "innovation, development, all happening in America." Mixed into the series are appearances by Duffy's son-in-law, Michael Alfonso, whose U.S. House campaign in Wisconsin has received support from transportation lobbyists.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy gives two thumbs up in front of a Toyota vehicle parked outside the White House in the first episode of the "Great American Road Trip" series.

Each episode concludes with a display of sponsor logos accompanied by a disclaimer stating that the appearance of any product or business does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of Transportation. The DOT has maintained that Duffy's involvement in the series was approved by the department's ethics attorneys.

Despite these assurances, the show has generated accusations of "gift laundering." In June, six Democratic senators, led by Sen. Patty Murray, requested that the DOT's acting inspector general investigate Duffy's participation in the show for potential violations of federal laws, rules, and regulations.