Secretary Sean Duffy Gives Energizing Speech at Merchant Marine Academy

Duffy received a standing ovation when he asserted, “Can we bring Jesus out of the basement?”

By Daniel Bissell | Restoration News

The responsibility of oversight for the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) falls under the purview of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

He visited the prestigious military academy on April 3, 2025 and the assembled midshipmen gave his speech a thunderous ovation.

He committed that the new administration will no longer ignore the academy, vowing to fix the crumbling infrastructure problems. His final rhetorical question, “Can we bring Jesus out of the basement?” received a standing ovation.

Duffy was referring to the historic heritage asset painting Christ on the Water. Superintendent Joanna Nunan removed the revered painting from its prominent location and placed it in a basement prone to flooding.

Christian students at the school have felt attacked for their faith under Nunan’s leadership. She pushed an LGBT agenda onto the students by promoting radical LGBT events “encouraging” all students to participate.

When a military academy leader encourages something, students generally understand it as required. Transgender displays remained in prominent locations, and the USMMA distributed branded tee shirts promoting LGBT Pride.

Yet Nunan removed the painting of Jesus watching over distressed mariners at sea, declaring it offensive because a radical far-left anti-Christian activist demanded its removal.

Restoration News has reported extensively on the problems at USMMA and in the maritime industry. The Merchant Marine Academy is the least-well known of the five official military service academies, but occupies a place of importance.

The Biden administration overlooked problems at the school and pushed a woke agenda through Superintendent Nunan rather than addressing major infrastructure and recruiting problems.

Acta Non Verba

Acta Non Verba, USMMA’s motto, is Latin for “deeds not words.” While addressing the academy, Secretary Duffy honored midshipmen whose ships came under attack in the Red Sea in January 2024 during Operation Prosperity Guardian. These ships came under attack by Houthi terrorist missiles.

Students must complete “Sea Year Training” that places them on a variety of merchant vessels to gain real world experience. The honored midshipmen had found themselves placed in harm’s way.

Some were engaged in refueling missions for Naval warships defending the commercial shipping lanes. The Biden administration’s failure to honor these students shows just how little they cared for the school.

Secretary Duffy expressed shock when he toured the academy and learned they had mold and a lack of hot water. He criticized the previous administration, saying the school hasn’t had “the focus of a secretary to say we’re going to turn this around.”

Duffy’s shot came at the expense of former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who famously took several months off for paternity leave when his husband adopted two children, and who never completed the investigation into the ship collision that caused the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

Duffy also promised future announcements regarding the maritime industry from President Trump “because he cares about mariners.”

As just one example, President Trump signaled his strong support for America’s maritime industry when he released a draft order to create a new maritime industrial base office within the White House’s National Security Council.

Not only did the previous administration fail the midshipmen, but the current superintendent has also done nothing to advocate for the academy. Her focus has been implementing her woke agenda rather than improving conditions at the academy.

Secretary Duffy should be commended for his visit to the all-too-often overlooked Merchant Marine Academy, and his promises to act.

He must take decisive action, though—Duffy must fire Nunan and bring in a superintendent who will show real leadership, and who will advocate for the excellence of the academy.

First published on Restoration News