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

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.

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.