Duffy, also the Transportation Secretary, has no space background, but has been an MTV reality star and a congressman.

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

Amidst unprecedented budget cuts and looming layoffs, U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy as acting NASA administrator. The appointment is temporary, and Duffy will continue leading the Department of Transportation while assuming the NASA role, Trump said in a post on his social media site, Truth Social.