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.

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.