U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is reportedly in talks with Republican Senators about a controversial proposal to bring NASA under the control of the Department of Transportation.
According to reports from Ars Technica, Secretary Sean Duffy has been holding a series of closed-door meetings with key Republican lawmakers to explore the feasibility of reorganizing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Established in 1958 as an independent agency, NASA has traditionally operated outside Cabinet departments to preserve its scientific and exploratory autonomy.
The discussions reportedly center on increasing efficiency, consolidating federal oversight of aerospace infrastructure, and integrating space transportation systems more closely with civilian and commercial aviation policy. Critics within the scientific community, however, fear that such a merger could jeopardize NASA’s research independence and slow progress on missions related to deep-space exploration and climate monitoring.
The Department of Transportation has not officially confirmed the talks, and White House officials have said the proposal remains in its early stages. If enacted, the move would mark one of the most significant restructurings of America’s space governance since NASA’s founding during the Cold War.
