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.

"I was surprised to learn that he was a blue-blooded Democrat, who had never contributed to a Republican before."

The resignation wave is closely tied to budget pressures. The White House has proposed cutting NASA’s fiscal year 2026 budget by nearly half, down from $7.33 billion. This proposed reduction is part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to cut down on government spending and streamline federal operations.