- Sean Duffy and Jared Isaacman are locked in a bitter power struggle for NASA leadership, with lobbying, meetings, and loyalty tests intensifying.
- Isaacman's withdrawn nomination exposed Trump's focus on GOP loyalty; both candidates are courting support and shaping NASA's direction amid private-space ties.
- Urgency grows as UAP sightings near nuclear sites push NASA's next administrator to address national security and transparency on unexplained phenomena.
In the high-stakes world of Washington politics, a quiet but fierce battle is unfolding over who will lead NASA under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who’s been pulling double duty as the agency’s acting administrator, is reportedly clashing with billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman—a close ally of Elon Musk—over the permanent gig.
This infighting, marked by lobbying efforts, contentious meetings, and whispers of loyalty tests, comes at a time when NASA’s role in investigating unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP) is under the spotlight, especially with recent confirmations of incursions near sensitive nuclear sites.
The FrankNez Media Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here.
The tension kicked off earlier this year when Trump initially tapped Isaacman for the role, only to yank the nomination in May over concerns about his past donations to Democrats, including Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.
Isaacman, the founder of Shift4 Payments and a commercial astronaut who’s flown private missions with SpaceX, had seemed like a shoo-in, but the withdrawal highlighted Trump’s emphasis on unwavering GOP allegiance.
Fast-forward to now, and sources say both men have been jockeying hard, with Duffy’s team at the Department of Transportation raising alarms to the White House about Isaacman allegedly deploying lobbyists and social media influencers to boost his chances.
Here’s Why This Story Gets Really Deep
One insider described talks between the two as “contentious at times,” with Duffy having to circle back to smooth things over after interviewing Isaacman on October 13.
Duffy, a former reality TV star turned politician, hasn’t publicly declared his interest in keeping the job, but his actions speak volumes.
A NASA spokesperson told reporters that Duffy “has been happy to help by vetting people and giving his honest feedback” and suggested the agency might benefit from Cabinet-level status, perhaps even folding under the Department of Transportation.
Meanwhile, Isaacman has ramped up his MAGA credentials, including a $1 million donation to a related fund, according to federal records.
He pushed back on the lobbying claims, insisting he’s “never expressed confidence about a renomination at any point.”
This isn’t just palace intrigue—it’s spilling into NASA’s operations.
Just this week, Duffy appeared on TV to announce shake-ups in the agency’s lunar landing plans, signaling his intent to leave a mark while in the acting role.
Reuters reported that Isaacman is back in discussions for the position, with a meeting between him and Duffy happening last week.
NASA press secretary Bethany Stephens confirmed it was an “excellent meeting,” per space industry chatter.
Advisors and lawmakers are lining up behind both sides, turning what should be a straightforward nomination into a full-blown power struggle.
Even Space Policy Online noted Isaacman is among candidates Duffy is vetting, underscoring how Trump’s team is weighing private-sector flair against government experience.
The backdrop to all this? Elon Musk’s messy split from his White House gig heading the Department of Government Efficiency, which blew up publicly over claims involving Jeffrey Epstein files.
Isaacman’s ties to Musk add another layer, especially as Trump eyes nominees who can navigate the growing private space boom.
An Uptick in UAP Sightings Could Play a Massive Role
But the real urgency around NASA’s leadership ties into broader national security concerns: the uptick in UAP sightings, particularly around nuclear facilities.
These aren’t fringe theories anymore. History shows UFO reports—now rebranded as UAP—have clustered near atomic sites since the 1940s, from A-bomb development areas to modern carrier strike groups.
Wikipedia entries and statistical studies back this up, noting higher activity near military and atomic installations.
More recently, the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) tallied 18 UAP incidents near U.S. nuclear weapons sites, though they found no signs of foreign adversaries pulling the strings.
Congress got an earful during its second UAP hearing last November, where witnesses highlighted increased activity at military bases and nuclear spots.
Some sightings over launch sites were pinned on drones, but operators remain a mystery.
Marco Rubio Reveals UAPs Are Not Ours
Enter U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who’s been vocal on this.
In the upcoming documentary “The Age of Disclosure,” set to drop on Prime Video November 21, Rubio states plainly that UAP have been spotted flying over restricted nuclear facilities.
“There have been repeated incursions over restricted airspace near nuclear facilities,” he says in the trailer, emphasizing these aren’t U.S. tech.
Rubio, interviewed alongside dozens of government and military officials, underscores the seriousness: these phenomena are real and demand attention.
His comments align with broader pushes for transparency, as scientists increasingly treat UAP as a legitimate field, rebranding UFOs to strip the stigma.
With NASA already running its own UAP study team—recommending better data collection in a 2023 report—the next administrator will shape how the agency tackles these mysteries.
Amid Rubio’s warnings and historical patterns, the Duffy-Isaacman showdown isn’t just about egos; it’s about who steers America’s space agenda when unexplained threats loom larger than ever.
Trump could name his pick any day, but until then, the orbit of intrigue keeps spinning.
Also Read: Republicans Face Growing Backlash as Voters Blame Them for Govt. Shutdown
FAQ
Yes, the United States government has publicly acknowledged that UFOs, or Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) have been visiting nuclear sites since the 1940s.
Government officials have confirmed the sightings of UFOs in both under water through sonar (and other undisclosed technology) and at key nuclear sites.
The United States has held congressional hearings to better understand the sightings from ex-military and private sector whistleblowers to identify its significance in terms of national security.
Yes. Disclosure is happening this moment at an early stage where more information is becoming declassified to the public.
