White House Frustration Mounts Over Transportation Secretary Duffy's Feud with Elon Musk

Washington D.C. – White House officials are reportedly losing patience with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over his escalating public feud with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, particularly concerning the future of NASA's Artemis program. The dispute, which has seen Musk launch personal attacks against Duffy on social media, stems from Duffy's recent statements regarding SpaceX's progress on lunar lander contracts and his controversial proposal to integrate NASA into the Department of Transportation.

"White House officials have had enough of the bickering — and they are placing the blame at Duffy's feet," a recent social media post highlighted. The sentiment reflects growing concern within the administration that the ongoing public spat is becoming a distraction and could negatively impact the Republican Party ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The conflict intensified after Secretary Duffy, who also serves as acting NASA Administrator, suggested that SpaceX was behind schedule on its $2.9 billion contract for the Artemis III lunar lander. Duffy indicated that NASA might reopen contracts to other bidders, including Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin, stating, "We’re not going to wait for one company." This prompted a furious response from Musk, who on X (formerly Twitter) called Duffy "Sean Dummy" and accused him of "trying to kill NASA," questioning his intelligence and suitability for the role.

Musk's criticism also targeted Duffy's reported ambitions to fold NASA under the Department of Transportation, a move the SpaceX CEO and his allies believe would undermine the agency's independence and America's leadership in space. This latest clash is rooted in a longer-standing tension, including the Trump administration's decision to withdraw the nomination of Musk-backed Jared Isaacman to lead NASA, instead elevating Duffy. While Duffy has not directly responded to Musk's personal insults, he has maintained that competition among innovators will ultimately benefit America's space endeavors.