Trump names Transportation Secretary Duffy as interim NASA administrator

Trump names Transportation Secretary Duffy as interim NASA administrator


Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks alongside FAA Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau during a news conference at the Department of Transportation Headquarters on May 28, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images

U.S. President Donald Trump Wednesday tapped Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to serve as the interim administrator of NASA, a role that has remained vacant since Trump withdrew his initial nominee.

Duffy will temporarily take over the post that has been in the spotlight due to Trump’s feud with billionaire Elon Musk, who wanted his close ally Jared Isaacman to lead the space agency.

“Sean is doing a TREMENDOUS job in handling our Country’s Transportation Affairs … He will be a fantastic leader of the ever more important Space Agency, even if only for a short period of time,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump named Isaacman, a billionaire private astronaut, to be the NASA administrator in December, before abruptly withdrawing his nomination in May, in a decision that angered SpaceX-owner Musk.

While at the time the White House did not provide an explanation for pulling Isaacman’s nomination, Trump has since said it was “inappropriate” to have named Isaacman as NASA administrator, considering Musk’s business with the space agency.

After Trump’s announcement on Wednesday, Isaacman called it “a great move” and wished Duffy well.

“NASA needs political leadership from someone the President trusts and has confidence in,” Isaacman said on X.

Trump’s announcement came as Politico reported that more than 2,100 senior-ranking NASA employees are set to leave their jobs under a push by the administration to shed staff through early retirement, buyouts and deferred resignations.

Under Trump’s administration, the U.S. space industry and NASA’s workforce of 18,000 have been whipsawed by looming layoffs and proposed budget cuts that would cancel dozens of science programs.



Source

Trump says 50% tariff on copper will begin Aug. 1
Politics

Trump says 50% tariff on copper will begin Aug. 1

Copper wires at a recycling facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, US, on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Niki Chan Wylie | Bloomberg | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that the 50% tariff on copper imports, which he announced earlier on Tuesday, will begin on Aug. 1. The decision was made after he […]

Read More
Bishop of major Catholic diocese exempts parishioners from Mass over fears of ICE raids
Politics

Bishop of major Catholic diocese exempts parishioners from Mass over fears of ICE raids

Reverend Alberto Rojas, Bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino Ordaining Prelate and Principal Celebrant, leads the Ordination to the Priesthood mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Saturday, May 20, 2023. Will Lester | Medianews Group | Getty Images A Catholic bishop in California has issued a rare decree […]

Read More
Oak View Group CEO Leiweke charged with bid rigging in U. of Texas arena project
Politics

Oak View Group CEO Leiweke charged with bid rigging in U. of Texas arena project

Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke has been indicted on a federal criminal conspiracy charge related to his alleged role in rigging the bidding to develop, manage and operate the University of Texas’ basketball arena in Austin. Leiweke, 68, is accused in the indictment of conspiring with another would-be bidder on the $338 million Moody […]

Read More