Elon Musk Clashes with NASA Acting Chief Sean Duffy Over Agency Leadership and Moon Mission Contracts

A public feud has erupted between Elon Musk and Sean Duffy, the acting NASA chief and U.S. Transportation Secretary, centered on NASA's Artemis moon landing mission. Duffy criticized SpaceX for falling behind schedule on the Starship development, prompting NASA to open the Artemis contract to competition from other companies like Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. In response, Musk launched a series of personal attacks on social media, calling Duffy "Sean Dummy," accusing him of having a "2 digit IQ," and alleging he is trying to "kill NASA." This feud also ties into a broader leadership battle for NASA, with Duffy lobbying to fold NASA into the Transportation Department and seeking permanent leadership, while Musk's preferred candidate, Jared Isaacman, was rejected by President Trump due to political loyalty concerns. The dispute has further strained Musk's relationship with the administration, although there is some indication of a possible detente. Meanwhile, the Artemis program's delays have caused stock gains for rival space companies expected to compete for NASA contracts.