Trump picks Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to lead NASA for now, after pulling Musk-backed nominee
CBSJUL 9
Trump Names Duffy Interim NASA Chief
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The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
With deep political savvy and the president's full confidence, Sean Duffy brings unmatched access, proven leadership, and a builder's mindset to NASA. Though unconventional, his appointment signals a strategic pivot — ensuring the space agency has a powerful advocate at the highest levels during a critical and turbulent budgetary moment.
Anti-Trump narrative
Trump's appointment of Sean Duffy as interim NASA chief epitomizes institutional neglect through "dual-hatting" that signals contempt for the underlying position. With NASA facing extinction-level budget cuts, mass senior staff exodus, and leadership chaos, America's space ambitions appear increasingly hollow beneath all the soaring rhetoric.