Sean Duffy, who has served as NASA’s acting administrator for over a month, is committed to advancing the United States’ position in space exploration.
Duffy, who previously held roles as a US Congressman, a reality television personality, and a television commentator, stepped into this role without extensive experience in spaceflight. He is also juggling responsibilities as the secretary of transportation, overseeing 55,000 employees across multiple agencies.
Despite these challenges, Duffy is making strides within the agency, focusing on ambitious human exploration initiatives, such as the creation of a lunar base, while shifting away from NASA’s Earth-focused research, particularly studies on climate change.
Although Duffy has not heavily engaged with journalists covering the space sector, he has made numerous appearances on Fox News, where he previously worked. Most recently, he participated in an 11-minute segment on “Mornings with Maria,” a FOX Business show hosted by Maria Bartiromo, to elaborate on NASA’s direction.
Advocating for Exploration
During his recent appearance, Duffy discussed NASA’s vision for establishing a long-term presence on the Moon, highlighting his advocacy for developing a nuclear reactor to supply power for lunar operations. He expressed a clear intent to pivot away from Earth studies, aligning with priorities set by the Trump Administration across various federal agencies.
“We’re going to put aside all the climate science and the other priorities that were emphasized by the last administration, directing our focus solely toward exploration, which is NASA’s core mission,” Duffy stated during the show. “That’s why NASA exists—to explore, not to engage in Earth sciences.”
