Sean Duffy, Trump’s pick as interim NASA chief, comes via MTV and US congress
Trump Appoints Sean Duffy as Interim NASA Chief After Withdrawing Isaacman Nomination
In a surprising move, former U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy as the temporary head of NASA. The announcement was made Wednesday via a post on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social.
The position of NASA administrator has been unoccupied since May, when Trump unexpectedly pulled the nomination of entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, citing concerns over his “past associations.” Isaacman, who had received strong public support from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, was seen as a high-profile pick before the abrupt withdrawal.
Despite the vacancy, Duffy’s new role at NASA was not widely anticipated. Trump described him as “a fantastic leader” for the space agency, even if his service is only temporary.
Sean Duffy: From Reality TV to NASA
Sean Duffy brings a diverse background to his new interim role. Born on October 3, 1971, the former Republican congressman from Wisconsin has worn many hats: TV personality, prosecutor, lawmaker, and media commentator.
He first gained public attention as a cast member on MTV’s The Real World: Boston in 1997, later appearing on Road Rules: All Stars, where he met his wife Rachel Campos-Duffy. The couple went on to co-host Fox & Friends Weekend and now have nine children.
Duffy transitioned from television to law, working as a special prosecutor and eventually becoming the district attorney for Ashland County in northern Wisconsin. His political career kicked off in 2010 when he rode the Tea Party wave to Congress, where he became known for a campaign ad featuring him chopping wood and vowing to “take his axe to Washington.”
During his time in Congress, Duffy served on the Financial Services Committee and chaired its housing and insurance subcommittee. He stepped down in 2019 and became a Fox News contributor before being tapped as Trump’s Secretary of Transportation in January 2025, at the start of Trump’s second term.
NASA’s Future: Still in Flux
While Duffy’s appointment is interim, it places a trusted Trump ally at the helm of an increasingly important agency. With space exploration and commercial partnerships expanding rapidly, NASA’s leadership will be critical in shaping the U.S. role in space over the next few years.
The former president did not indicate when a permanent administrator might be named, but Duffy’s temporary leadership ensures continuity at the agency as political discussions around NASA’s direction continue.
