Elon Musk unleashed a blistering attack on acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy Tuesday, calling him incompetent and accusing him of sabotaging America's moon program. The feud erupted after Duffy publicly criticized SpaceX for falling behind on its $2.9 billion lunar lander contract and threatened to consider rival bids from competitors like Blue Origin.
The gloves came off in America's space program Tuesday as SpaceX CEO Elon Musk launched a withering personal attack on acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, escalating a contract dispute that could reshape the nation's return to the moon. Musk didn't hold back on X, writing that 'the person responsible for America's space program can't have a 2 digit IQ' and dubbing Duffy '*Sean Dummy.' The billionaire even mocked Duffy's background as a competitive speed climber, asking followers if 'someone whose biggest claim to fame is climbing trees' should run NASA.
The explosive confrontation stems from Duffy's Monday interview with CNBC, where he publicly criticized SpaceX for lagging 'behind' schedule on its crucial lunar landing system for the Artemis III mission. More damaging still, Duffy floated the possibility of awarding contracts to competitors like Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin - a direct challenge to Musk's space dominance. 'We would consider other contracts with competitors such as Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin,' Duffy told reporters, setting a October 29 deadline for SpaceX and other contractors to propose acceleration plans.
The timing couldn't be worse for NASA's already troubled moon program. The agency has been hemorrhaging talent under sweeping workforce reductions tied to Musk's previous role heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Nearly 4,000 NASA employees - roughly one-fifth of the workforce - accepted buyout packages since Trump took office, leaving critical programs understaffed. The cuts, implemented through what NASA called 'deferred resignation programs,' have particularly hit diversity and inclusion initiatives that Musk had targeted during his DOGE tenure.
SpaceX won its $2.9 billion Artemis contract back in 2021, beating out established aerospace giants like Boeing and Lockheed Martin. But the program has stumbled repeatedly since then. NASA's first Artemis mission launched in November 2022, but last December brought another round of delays. The first crewed moon flight is now scheduled for April 2026, with the actual lunar landing pushed to 2027 - a timeline that has China breathing down America's neck in the new space race.
Duffy's appointment itself reflects the political chaos surrounding NASA leadership. Trump initially nominated Musk ally Jared Isaacman for the top job, only to withdraw the nomination after calling Isaacman a 'blue blooded Democrat.' The position sat vacant for months before Trump tapped Duffy, the former transportation secretary, to lead an agency racing against time and geopolitical rivals. Sources tell that Trump has quietly reopened discussions with Isaacman about reconsidering the role.
