President Donald Trump has announced that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will temporarily lead NASA. The move follows the withdrawal of Jared Isaacman’s nomination last month.
Trump shared the update on his social media account Wednesday, praising Duffy for his work in transportation and infrastructure. He said Duffy has played a big role in upgrading air traffic control and rebuilding the nation’s roads and bridges.
“Sean is doing a tremendous job with transportation,” Trump wrote. “He will be a fantastic leader of the space agency, even if only for a short period. Congratulations, and thank you, Sean.”
Shortly after the announcement, Duffy responded on X, writing, “Honored to accept this mission. Time to take over space. Let’s launch.”
The change in leadership comes after Trump pulled back the nomination of tech billionaire Jared Isaacman in May. Isaacman, who has gone to space twice on private missions, is known to be a close friend of Elon Musk. The president stated that a review of Isaacman’s background led to the decision.
“After a thorough review of prior associations, I am hereby withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman to head NASA,” Trump said. “I will soon announce a new nominee who will be mission-aligned and put America first in space.”
The announcement was made just days before the Senate was expected to vote on Isaacman’s nomination. Many observers saw this as a major shift in Trump’s space policy.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) leaders are usually chosen from fields like science, engineering, or public service. They often need to work closely with lawmakers to secure funding and support for the agency’s goals. Leading NASA, with a yearly budget of about $25 billion, is seen as a high-level job requiring deep experience in space policy or science.
Critics have questioned Trump’s choice to appoint Duffy, who lacks a background in space. However, Trump emphasized leadership skills and trust over technical expertise in his decision.
In a social media post last weekend, Trump explained more about his decision to withdraw Isaacman’s nomination. He said it would be inappropriate for a close friend of Musk, a major player in the space industry, to run NASA.
“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,” Trump posted.
The post also included criticism of Musk, once a strong Trump supporter. Their relationship has reportedly soured in recent weeks after a dispute over Trump’s policy plans. Musk left the administration in early June after leading the Department of Government Efficiency.
Sources say that tensions between Musk and Duffy surfaced earlier this year. At a March cabinet meeting, the two reportedly argued. Duffy accused Musk of trying to interfere with air traffic control staffing, leading to a sharp exchange.
Duffy’s appointment is part of a growing trend in the Trump administration. Several Cabinet members are now handling more than one major role. For example, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is currently also serving as the interim national security adviser and national archivist.
It is still unclear how long Duffy will serve as NASA’s acting leader. Trump said a permanent nominee would be announced soon. Until then, Duffy will oversee the agency’s programs, including space exploration, satellite projects, and ongoing efforts to partner with private companies.
Observers expect Duffy to focus on promoting Trump’s space goals, including plans for future moon missions and building up U.S. space leadership. While he may lack space experience, White House sources say his leadership and loyalty made him the right pick — at least for now.
