posted 07-09-2025 08:22 PM               

I am pleased to announce that I am directing our great Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, to be Interim Administrator of NASA. Sean is doing a tremendous job in handling our country's transportation affairs, including creating a state-of-the-art air traffic control systems, while at the same time rebuilding our roads and bridges, making them efficient, and beautiful, again.

He will be a fantastic leader of the ever more important space agency, even if only for a short period of time. Congratulations, and thank you, Sean!

Honored to accept this mission. Time to take over space. Let's launch.

posted 07-10-2025 10:42 AM               

I am honored to have served the President as the acting NASA Administrator for the past 6 months. His decision to appoint Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy as acting Administrator reflects the high priority he places on our agency at this pivotal time.

I've had the opportunity to work closely with Secretary Duffy — including during Crew-9's return in the Space Operations Center at NASA Headquarters — and I'm confident in his leadership as we carry forward the President's ambitious agenda.

I look forward to supporting a smooth transition and returning home to Kennedy Space Center as Center Director. At home in Florida, I'll continue to work hand-in-hand with Secretary Duffy to propel the President's ambitious goals.

...Trump wanted someone he liked and trusted running NASA. This is probably a benefit for the agency, as it will give NASA a direct line to the president. For example, Duffy can text Trump if NASA needs something or is being treated unfairly during the budgeting process.

Petro did not have that kind of political sway, and this is a White House in which access to the president matters a great deal. The agency was in great peril, as there was no one in headquarters who could push back on harmful things being done to NASA or get things done. Duffy will have that kind of pull. But he will also be incredibly busy already with the Department of Transportation.

posted 07-11-2025 07:19 PM               

And to be fair to Duffy, he wasn't only a television personality. He was also a district attorney and a congressman who represented Wisconsin from 2011 to 2019. If anything, he has more in common with Jim Bridenstine than he does Bergman.

That said, Duffy seemingly showed no interest in NASA's activities while in Congress and, as mentioned, he will not be able to dedicate his full attention to the space agency while still also leading the Department of Transportation.

posted 09-03-2025 09:44 AM               

Acting NASA Administrator Duffy Selects Exploration-Focused Associate Administrator

Acting NASA Administrator Sean P. Duffy Wednesday named Amit Kshatriya as the new associate administrator of NASA, the agency's top civil service role.

A 20-year NASA veteran, Kshatriya was most recently the deputy in charge of the Moon to Mars Program in the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD) at NASA Headquarters in Washington. In this role, Kshatriya was responsible for program planning and implementation for crewed missions to the Moon through the Artemis campaign in preparation for humanity's first mission to Mars.

Promoting Kshatriya to NASA's top ranks puts America's return to the Moon through Artemis at the very core of our agency. The move exemplifies President Donald J. Trump and Duffy's seriousness about returning Americans to the Moon and before China.

"Amit has spent more than two decades as a dedicated public servant at NASA, working to advance American leadership in space. Under his leadership, the agency will chart a bold vision to return to the Moon during President Trump's term," said Duffy. "Amit's knowledge, integrity, and unwavering commitment to pioneering a new era of exploration make him uniquely qualified to lead our agency as associate administrator. With Amit we'll continue to push the boundaries of what's possible."

Kshatriya's promotion also signals how the Trump Administration sees the commercial space sector as an American economic engine. By putting a proven leader at the top, NASA is set to partner even more closely with America's booming space industry, grow the space economy, and ensure the future of exploration is built in the United States.

Born in Wisconsin, educated at California Institute of Technology and the University of Texas at Austin, Kshatriya is one of only about 100 people in history to serve as a mission control flight director. He brings unparalleled operational and strategic experience to NASA's executive leadership team.