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Is Sean Duffy Making a Power Grab at NASA?

As Jared Isaacman reenters contention for space agency administrator, the transportation secretary is reportedly keen on the role himself.

NASA interim administrator Sean Duffy
Sean Duffy is sworn in as U.S. Transportation Secretary by Vice President J.D. Vance in January. [Courtesy: U.S. Department of Transportation]
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Key Takeaways:

  • A power struggle is underway for the permanent NASA administrator position between interim administrator Sean Duffy and Jared Isaacman, whose initial nomination was withdrawn by President Trump.
  • Isaacman, a SpaceX customer with broad industry and bipartisan support, was nominated previously but faced withdrawal, potentially due to a falling out between Elon Musk and the White House.
  • Duffy, a Trump ally, is actively seeking the permanent role and recently reopened competition for the Artemis III lunar landing system contract, previously awarded to SpaceX, a move that could be seen as an attempt to appease Trump.
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A showdown is brewing for the top job at NASA.

The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday reported that Sean Duffy, U.S. transportation secretary and interim NASA administrator, wants to lead the agency permanently as rumors swirl about the potential renomination of Jared Isaacman for the role.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.

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