Duffy is temporarily replacing former Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro, who has been the interim NASA administrator since Trump took office and Bill Nelson stepped down. It’s unclear if Petro will return to her role at KSC. The Sentinel has reached out to NASA for comment.

NASA's leadership change comes at a pivotal moment for the agency, which is already bracing for potentially severe funding cuts.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is about to perform double duty after President Donald Trump named him interim head of NASA.