Trump Appoints Musk Foe Sean Duffy Interim NASA Head

President Donald Trump has appointed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy as the interim administrator of NASA, replacing Janet Petro and marking a clear rebuke to Elon Musk, a former ally. Duffy, praised by Trump for his work on air traffic control modernization and infrastructure, accepted the role with enthusiasm, stating he is 'honored' and ready to 'take over space.' This appointment follows Trump's withdrawal of Jared Isaacman's nomination for NASA leadership; Isaacman, backed by Musk, was rejected due to his Democratic affiliations, fueling speculation that the move was influenced by Trump's escalating feud with Musk. Duffy and Musk have clashed publicly over issues related to air traffic control and Musk's satellite system Starlink, deepening tensions between the Trump administration and Musk. The change comes amid significant staffing cuts and proposed budget reductions at NASA, which could affect the agency's operations. Overall, the decision underscores Trump's preference for Duffy's approach over Musk's influence within the space agency.