- President Trump has appointed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy as interim NASA Administrator, citing space as a growing national priority.
- Duffy replaces Janet Petro after Trump withdrew billionaire Jared Isaacman’s nomination over concerns about conflicts of interest with SpaceX.
- Trump praised Duffy’s leadership at DOT and called him the right choice to help guide NASA’s mission during this critical period.
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will step in as interim administrator of NASA—a move the president says highlights the growing role of space in America’s strategic priorities.
“I am pleased to announce that I am directing our GREAT Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, to be Interim Administrator of NASA,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“He will be a fantastic leader of the ever more important Space Agency, even if only for a short period of time.”
Trump praised Duffy’s leadership at the Department of Transportation, calling his work “TREMENDOUS,” and applauding his focus on modernizing air traffic control and rebuilding infrastructure. “Rebuilding our roads and bridges, making them efficient, and beautiful, again,” he added.
Duffy, a former Wisconsin congressman and reliable Trump ally, accepted the post with enthusiasm. “🚀 Honored to accept this mission. Time to take over space. Let’s launch,” he wrote on X.
Duffy replaces Janet Petro, who had served as acting administrator since January. The appointment comes after Trump withdrew the nomination of Jared Isaacman in May, a billionaire entrepreneur closely tied to Elon Musk and SpaceX.
Trump cited a “thorough review of prior associations” and concern over “corporate entanglements” as reasons for pulling Isaacman’s nomination.
NASA has taken on a bigger role under Trump, factoring into national defense, economic growth, and innovation. The administration continues to prioritize space exploration as part of a broader push to restore American leadership beyond Earth’s atmosphere.