WASHINGTON — A week after being named NASA’s new acting administrator, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy appears to be just getting started on that job while continuing to lead the Transportation Department.
President Trump announced late July 9 that he had selected Duffy to lead the agency on an interim basis while continuing to run the Department of Transportation (DOT). He replaced Janet Petro, who had been acting administrator of NASA since Jan. 20, in a move that took most in the space community by surprise.
For nearly a week after the announcement, Duffy had not said anything publicly about his new role leading NASA beyond a brief social media post. NASA itself also had not commented on the leadership change beyond releasing a statement July 10 from Petro.
“I am honored to have served the President as the acting NASA Administrator for the past 6 months. His decision to appoint Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy as acting Administrator reflects the high priority he places on our agency at this pivotal time,” Petro stated. “I look forward to supporting a smooth transition and returning home to Kennedy Space Center as Center Director.”
NASA’s website, in fact, continued to identify Petro as acting administrator as recently as early July 17, more than a week after the president’s announcement. The mixed signals raised confusion within and outside the agency about who officially was in charge.
“NASA’s acting Administrator is Sean Duffy,” NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens said in a statement to SpaceNews late July 16. “Shortly after the President made the announcement, DOT Secretary Duffy was in the NASA headquarters last week for meetings and he will be addressing the entire NASA team on Friday.”
“Secretary Duffy and the entire NASA team are grateful to Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro for her service as Acting Administrator during the time of transition,” she added.
Duffy, in his role as secretary of transportation, testified before the House Transportation Committee July 16. On several occasions, members brought up his new role as NASA’s acting administrator, and Duffy indicated that, a week after the announcement, he was only now starting work.
“In practice, today will be my first full day at NASA,” he said, deferring a question by Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-Wash.) about how he would deal with the agency’s aging infrastructure. “I want to spend time with the staff and the team.”
“Again, today is my first official day but I’m spending it with all of you,” he said near the end of the hearing, spanning more than four and a half hours, when asked by Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) about agency data on unidentified aerial phenomena. “I’m having a classified briefing on Friday over at NASA.”
One member, Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), asked how Duffy planned to handle both his NASA and Transportation Department roles. Duffy emphasized the anticipated short-term nature of his NASA assignment.
“We need someone in the interim to make decisions and make sure we’re leaning forward with NASA,” Johnson said. “I’m honored that the president has given me this short-term capability, but that is not going to impact my ability to do the important work of the DOT.”
Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas), who also chairs the House Science Committee, said he would ask Duffy “once you get settled in” as acting NASA administrator to testify before his committee about the agency’s fiscal year 2026 budget request. That request sought to cut overall NASA spending by 25%, and that cut has been largely rejected by House and Senate appropriators.
“In the meantime, I would like to have your assurance, if you can, that you will not take any actions pursuant to the fiscal year ’26 budget request until Congress acts on OMB’s proposal,” Babin said, such as laying off staff or terminating programs.
“I am going to follow the will of Congress,” Duffy responded. “As you know, I am the interim administrator. I imagine the administration is going to nominate someone.”
However, he added, “we have to start to move forward. There are very critical timelines that we have to meet.”