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Senate Commerce Panel Sends Isaacman’s NASA Nomination to the Floor in 18–10 Vote

A near-term floor vote is expected, with scrutiny focused on his SpaceX ties.

Jared Isaacman, U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee to be administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), testifies during a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 3, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Jared Isaacman, nominee to be NASA administrator, testifies to the Senate Commerce Committee on Dec. 3.
Commander Jared Isaacman speaks at a news conference after arriving at the Kennedy Space Center for an upcoming private human spaceflight mission in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Monday, Aug. 19, 2024.

Overview

  • All 15 Republicans and three Democrats backed the nominee, with Maria Cantwell, Tammy Baldwin, and John Fetterman voting yes and ten Democrats opposed.
  • Rep. Andy Kim, who supported the pick in April, voted no this time after faulting Isaacman’s remarks on climate science and a sustained lunar presence.
  • Isaacman rejected conflict-of-interest concerns, saying he is not close to Elon Musk and holds no direct or indirect equity in aerospace companies including SpaceX.
  • The nomination has taken an unusual route: initial committee approval in April, withdrawal by President Trump in May, reinstatement in November, and a second hearing last week.
  • Senate leaders are eyeing a vote before the December 19 recess, with new rules allowing some nominations to be bundled, as the committee also postponed votes on other nominees including an NTSB replacement during an ongoing dispute over Alvin Brown’s removal.