Trump taps transportation secretary Sean Duffy as acting NASA chief
Washington D.C. – Amidst a backdrop of proposed sweeping budget cuts and anticipated workforce reductions, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the appointment of Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy as the acting NASA Administrator, a move unprecedented in the agency’s history.
The White House confirmed the appointment is temporary, with Secretary Duffy set to concurrently lead both the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). President Trump conveyed his confidence in Duffy via a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating, “Sean is doing a TREMENDOUS job in handling our Country’s Transportation Affairs, including creating a state-of-the-art Air Traffic Control systems, while at the same time rebuilding our roads and bridges, making them efficient, and beautiful, again.”
This dual-hatted role for a cabinet secretary is highly unusual for the space agency. Historically, NASA Administrators have typically emerged from backgrounds deeply rooted in space exploration, science, military service, or long-standing government bureaucracy. Duffy, while overseeing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) within the DOT, which includes commercial space transportation, does not possess a formal background in space science or aerospace engineering.
Observers suggest that Duffy’s tenure at NASA will likely be geared towards implementing President Trump’s near-term policy directives, which include significant fiscal adjustments for the agency. The White House’s proposed “One Big Beautiful Bill” outlines a substantial 25% reduction in NASA’s funding and a decrease of approximately 5,000 personnel, raising concerns about the future of various science initiatives and ongoing projects.
Duffy’s appointment follows the abrupt withdrawal of billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman’s nomination for the NASA Administrator role just weeks prior. Isaacman, renowned for his fortune from Shift4 Payments and his participation in two private SpaceX missions, was initially favored. However, President Trump rescinded his support after a “thorough review of prior associations,” citing Isaacman’s political donations to Democratic candidates and his close professional ties to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
The President articulated his rationale for the reversal regarding Isaacman in a separate Truth Social post, explaining, “I also thought it inappropriate that a very close friend of Elon, who was in the Space Business, run NASA, when NASA is such a big part of Elon’s corporate life.” This decision reportedly strained relations between President Trump and the tech magnate.
Secretary Duffy steps into the role previously held by Kennedy Space Center director Janet Petro, a seasoned NASA bureaucrat. The duration of Secretary Duffy’s acting leadership at NASA remains unspecified.
