Duffy, also the Transportation Secretary, has no space background, but has been an MTV reality star and a congressman.

President Donald Trump tapped Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to serve as the interim administrator of NASA on Wednesday, July 9. The role has been vacant since Trump withdrew his initial nominee, billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman, at the end of May.

Amidst unprecedented budget cuts and looming layoffs, U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy as acting NASA administrator. The appointment is temporary, and Duffy will continue leading the Department of Transportation while assuming the NASA role, Trump said in a post on his social media site, Truth Social.