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White House Pulls Isaacman’s NASA Nomination Just Before Senate Vote

The administration requires a NASA leader aligned with President Trump’s America First agenda, promising a replacement announcement soon.

Jared Isaacman testifies during a Senate confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on April 9, 2025.
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Jared Isaacman, U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee to be National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator, testifies during a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee confirmation hearing in the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on April 09, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Overview

  • Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur and private astronaut who flew twice with SpaceX, cleared the Senate Commerce Committee in April and was poised for a full Senate confirmation vote.
  • The White House cited the need for a NASA leader fully aligned with President Trump’s America First agenda but offered no detailed explanation for rescinding the nomination.
  • The withdrawal occurred just days before the Senate was scheduled to vote on Isaacman when lawmakers return from the Memorial Day recess.
  • Isaacman had backing from much of the space community and GOP senators like John Thune and Tim Sheehy, while some conservative figures speculated his ties to Elon Musk influenced the decision.
  • President Trump intends to name a replacement soon as his administration moves forward with a proposed 24% cut to NASA’s budget, its smallest funding request since 1961.