Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy will now additionally oversee NASA as its latest interim administrator. The brand new management announcement got here in a late-night publish by President Donal Trump on his social media web site, Reality Social.
“Sean is doing a TREMENDOUS job in dealing with our Nation’s Transportation Affairs, together with making a state-of-the-art Air Visitors Management methods, whereas on the similar time rebuilding our roads and bridges, making them environment friendly, and delightful, once more,” Trump wrote. “He might be a incredible chief of the ever extra vital House Company, even when just for a brief time frame.”
Duffy was a actuality present character identified for appearances in MTV exhibits “Highway Guidelines: All Stars” and “The Actual World: Boston” earlier than making his flip to politics, first as a district lawyer in Ashland County, Wisconsin, in 2002 after which as a member of Congress from 2010 to 2019.
Trump introduced Duffy as his decide for the place of Secretary of Transportation on Nov. 18, 2024. The Senate confirmed his nomination in a 77-22 vote on Jan. 28, 2025, simply days after the second Trump administration started.
“Honored to just accept this mission,” Duffy wrote on X following Trump’s publish. “Time to take over area. Let’s launch.”
The announcement Wednesday night time comes a bit greater than 5 weeks after Trump yanked the nomination of businessman Jared Issacman for the place of NASA Administrator. Isaacman, the founding father of Shift4 and the commander of two business astronaut missions, was voted favorably out of the Senate Commerce Committee in a 19-9 vote in April and was heading in direction of a full Senate vote when the nomination was pulled.
On the time Trump pulled Isaacman’s nomination on Might 31, he stated “I’ll quickly announce a brand new Nominee who might be Mission aligned, and put America First in House.” Since then, the President made just a few feedback increasing on his choice, together with a prolonged Reality Social publish on July 6, which was principally attacking his largest political donor within the 2024 election, Elon Musk.
He and Musk, who additionally led Trump’s Division of Authorities Effectivity, had a really public falling out, which included a lot of jabs coming from either side.
“Moreover, Elon requested that one in all his shut buddies run NASA and, whereas I assumed his pal was excellent, I used to be stunned to be taught that he was a blue blooded Democrat, who had by no means contributed to a Republican earlier than,” Trump wrote in his July 6 publish.
“Elon most likely was, additionally. I assumed it was inappropriate {that a} very shut pal of Elon, who was within the House Enterprise, run NASA, when NASA is such a giant a part of Elon’s company life.”
Isaacman pushed again the next day, stating in a publish on X that he’s a self-described “right-leaning reasonable” who made donations to each political events “although 10x extra to Republicans.” He additionally stated the he disclosed his political contributions earlier than his nomination was submitted to the Senate and stated his relationship with Musk was simply skilled.
Since Trump’s second time period started, Janet Petro, director of the Kennedy House Middle in Florida, has served because the Interim NASA Administrator. Previous to the Wednesday announcement, there wasn’t a sign that Petro wouldn’t proceed main NASA till a brand new nominee was chosen. She’s served within the function 171 days.
The shift comes at a key time for the company because the proposed Fiscal 12 months 2026 funds from the White Home would lower NASA’s general funds by about 25 p.c, which would come with a virtually 50 p.c discount within the science funds.
Even so, giving excessive degree officers a number of jobs isn’t new for Trump’s second time period in workplace. Greater than half a dozen folks are actually juggling two or extra key federal positions:
- Todd Blanche
- Deputy Legal professional Normal
- Appearing Librarian of Congress
- Daniel Driscoll
- Secretary of the Military
- Appearing Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
- Sean Duffy
- Secretary of Transportation
- Appearing NASA Administrator
- Jamieson Greer
- U.S. Commerce Consultant
- Appearing Director, U.S. Workplace of Authorities Ethics
- Appearing Particular Counsel, U.S. Workplace of Particular Counsel
- Richard Grenell
- Particular U.S. Envoy
- President, The Kennedy Middle
- Marco Rubio
- Secretary of State
- White Home Nationwide Safety Adviser
- Appearing Archivist of the US
- Appearing Administrator for the U.S. Company for Worldwide Improvement
- Russel Vought
- Director, U.S. Workplace of Administration and Price range
- Appearing Director, Client Monetary Safety Bear
Trump didn’t point out in his newest announcement when he intends to appoint somebody to change into the Senate-confirmed NASA Administrator. Throughout his first time period, Robert Lightfoot held the interim place for 458 days till Jim Bridenstine took the reigns in April 2018.
