The NASA Energy Battle Has Reached a Fever Pitch

Inner drama over who will function NASA Administrator performed out on the general public stage final week after Performing Administrator Sean Duffy seriously ticked off SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. It will seem the following spat has some Trump administration officers sizzling beneath the collar too.

Two sources aware of the matter told CNN that some White Home officers have grown pissed off with Duffy—who additionally serves as Transportation Secretary—over the NASA management squabble. Sources lately told the Wall Avenue Journal that Duffy has expressed curiosity in turning his momentary NASA function right into a everlasting one, however Jared Isaacman—Trump’s unique nominee—has re-emerged as a competing candidate.

Gizmodo reached out to the U.S. Division of Transportation and the White Home for remark however didn’t obtain a response by the point of publication.

Duffy pokes the bear

Behind-the-scenes tensions made headlines on October 20 after Duffy mentioned SpaceX had fallen behind in its effort to return Americans to the Moon and introduced that he would reopen the corporate’s Artemis 3 contract. This prompted CEO Elon Musk to hurl insults at Duffy through X.

A lot of his vitriol centered round Duffy’s means to successfully lead NASA—a task Musk had hoped would go to his shut enterprise affiliate, Isaacman. In a single X publish, Musk referred to Duffy as “Sean Dummy.” In one other, he wrote: “The particular person accountable for America’s house program can’t have a 2 digit IQ.”

President Trump withdrew Isaacman’s nomination in June, citing considerations over the billionaire’s previous Democratic marketing campaign donations and his ties to Musk. Trump and Musk had already been sparring over authorities spending, however the president’s determination to drag Isaacman’s nomination added gas to the hearth, igniting a monthslong feud.

Trump put in Duffy as appearing NASA administrator in July with plans to call a everlasting administrator at a later date, however as the federal government shutdown drags on, it’s unclear whether or not he’ll achieve this earlier than the 12 months ends.

Isaacman vs. Duffy

The function of NASA administrator has taken on new significance beneath President Trump, who has made U.S. spaceflight a focus of his agenda regardless of simultaneous efforts to slash NASA’s funding and workforce.

Duffy and Isaacman would every deliver very totally different views to the desk. Whereas Isaacman has real spaceflight experience and business data, Duffy offers unwavering loyalty to the Trump administration.

Regardless of dropping his unique NASA nomination, Isaacman has garnered assist from a number of lawmakers—together with longtime buddy Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT)—and MAGA influencer Laura Loomer. He lately met with Trump to debate the potential for one other nomination, a supply aware of the talks advised CNBC.

In the meantime, Duffy is reportedly jockeying for the place himself. Sources advised CNN that he has additionally expressed curiosity in folding NASA into the Division of Transportation and advised to the president that he be a part of the hiring course of for the administrator function.

A NASA spokesperson denied that latter account to CNN, however based on the Wall Avenue Journal, Duffy did interview Isaacman for the job on October 13. That needed to have been awkward.

It’s unclear the place the battle over NASA’s prime place will go from right here, however at this level, the choice course of may bleed into subsequent 12 months. The company is mired in uncertainty because the destiny of its management, funding, staffing, and a number of other key missions hangs within the steadiness. Whoever wins the title of NASA Administrator will definitely have his work reduce out for him.