The White House reinstates nomination after previous withdrawal
President Donald Trump has once again nominated tech entrepreneur and astronaut Jared Isaacman to serve as NASA administrator, months after initially withdrawing his name over concerns related to political affiliations.
The earlier withdrawal, announced in May, followed what Trump described as a “thorough review” of Isaacman’s previous associations. At the time, the president noted that while Isaacman was highly qualified, he had been “surprised to learn” that the businessman had no prior record of supporting Republican candidates.
Entrepreneur and private spaceflight pioneer
Isaacman, CEO and founder of the payment processing company Shift4, has been a long-time collaborator with SpaceX and participated in several private missions, including the first civilian spacewalk. His experience in the private aerospace sector has been cited as a key factor in his selection for the position.
In his new announcement, Trump praised Isaacman’s leadership, aviation background, and commitment to advancing space exploration. He stated that Isaacman’s passion and experience make him well-suited to guide NASA into “a bold new era.”
Senate confirmation and leadership transition
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been serving as acting NASA administrator and received praise from Trump for his interim leadership. Isaacman’s previous nomination had already been approved by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and a full Senate vote is expected to follow.
In a statement on social media, Isaacman expressed gratitude to the president and to the broader space community, emphasizing his enthusiasm for continuing to expand human exploration beyond Earth, without mentioning the earlier withdrawal.
