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.

The 47% budget cut would obliterate NASA's science program, experts say.

NASA will soon be facing a major brain drain as more than 2,000 senior employees prepare to leave the agency amid a push to reduce its workforce. Some 875 NASA workers work at the highest level of government and in managerial or specialized positions,