Billionaire and commercial astronaut Jared Isaacman has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as NASA’s next administrator.
Jared Isaacman, who was ousted from the battle for control of NASA, will officially take over the world’s largest space agency.
Don’t call it a comeback.
Isaacman, a billionaire who funded two private space missions for SpaceX, which he also led, was initially seen as a likely candidate to become NASA’s next administrator. But when President Donald Trump reversed his decision to nominate Isaacman, the entrepreneur’s path to leadership seemed remote, if not impossible.
After that, reports gradually began to surface that Isaacman had returned to active duty. Then, in November, President Trump announced that he had decided that Isaacman was the best person for the job after all.
President Trump’s move to reappoint Isaacman accelerates the 42-year-old’s path to a Senate confirmation vote on Wednesday, Dec. 17. By confirming Isaacman as NASA’s next administrator, the Senate leaves the door wide open for private astronauts to take command of the powerful government space agency.
Here’s everything you need to know about Isaacman, his commercial missions to space, and his long road to becoming NASA administrator.
Who is Jared Isaacman? Billionaire has been to space twice
Isaacman famously left school at the age of 16 to found the internet payment processing company Shift4 Payments, and thereby made his fortune.
Isaacman, an experienced aviator, has also been to space twice. Both were private missions launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, which he helped fund.
His first journey took place in 2021, when he was the commander of the first-ever mission known as Inspiration 4.
Isaacman then returned to space in September 2024 with an all-civilian crew of amateur astronauts on a mission known as Polaris Dawn, co-funded by SpaceX. During their five-day spaceflight, Isaacman and his three crew members reached historic high altitudes aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule and also performed the first commercial spacewalk.
Isaac becomes NASA administrator
Isaacman was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Dec. 17 by a vote of 67-30.
Although some senators expressed concerns after hearing about Isaacman’s close ties to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, his bid ultimately received significant bipartisan support, with 51 Republicans and 16 Democrats approving his bid. All 30 votes against his confirmation came from Democrats. Reuters reported.
How long has it been since NASA had a full-time administrator?
NASA has been without a full-time administrator since January. The confirmation makes Isaacman the official successor to former astronaut and Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, who was nominated by former President Joe Biden to lead NASA.
What are people saying about Isaacman?
The Planetary Society, a nonprofit organization that advocates for space exploration, congratulated Isaacman in a press release, saying he was “given an opportunity to stabilize and revitalize America’s space program.” The organization, headed by Bill Nye, has long supported Isaacman’s bid.
“I wish Jared every success as he begins his term leading NASA as we return to the moon in 2028 and beat China,” Sean Duffy, who has been acting NASA administrator since July, said in a post on X.
Trump nominated Isaacman a year ago
President Trump first announced Isaacman’s nomination in a post on Truth Social in December 2024, saying, “Jared will advance NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration and pave the way for breakthroughs in space science, technology and exploration.”
“I’m honored,” Isaacman responded in a post on social media site X.
“I’ve been lucky enough to see our amazing planet from space, and I’m passionate about America leading the most amazing adventure in human history,” Isaacman said in the post. “I can confidently say that this second space age has only just begun.
The nomination was well received by most of the space community and members of Congress, who appear poised to formally confirm Isaacman’s appointment.
Why did Trump change his mind about Isaacman’s nomination?
But Trump abruptly withdrew the nomination in late May amid a tense public feud with SpaceX CEO Musk, one of the world’s richest men and a strong supporter of Isaacman’s candidacy.
Trump did not give a specific reason for the change in direction, but Isaacman faced backlash in the Senate due to his close relationship with Musk at a time when the SpaceX founder is leaving the White House. Other reports have suggested that Isaacman’s past donations to the Democratic Party may have influenced Trump’s decision, and Trump said in a statement that “NASA’s next leader is fully aligned with President Trump’s America First policy.”
President Trump then appointed U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy in July, giving him the dual role of leading NASA as acting administrator. Mr. Duffy drew Mr. Musk’s ire in October by suggesting that NASA would consider lunar lander options from competitors other than SpaceX’s Starship for the upcoming Artemis 3 mission.
It will be up to Isaacman, a close Musk ally, to decide whether to re-sign the contract originally awarded to SpaceX in 2021.
Trump nominates Isaacman in November
On Nov. 4, President Trump reappointed Isaacman, calling him “the ideal person to lead NASA into a bold new era.”
President Trump praised his “passion for space” and said on the Truth Social that he was “excited to nominate Jared Isaacman, an outstanding business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, to be NASA Administrator.”
Isaacman thanked Trump on social media and vowed that under Trump’s leadership, NASA will “inspire the world again.”
“I truly believe that the future we have all been waiting for will soon become a reality,” Isaacman said on social media site X.
What lies ahead for Isaacman? Artemis moon mission budget cut
Isaacman is poised to take over the agency, which is facing historic budget cuts as it prepares for the first manned moon exploration in more than 50 years under the Artemis program.
As NASA’s top leader, Isaacman will oversee the world’s largest space agency as it prepares to return humans to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. The United States is embroiled in a fierce space race with rival China to land on the moon, and President Trump has indicated he wants to land on the moon before the end of his second term.
NASA’s Artemis program has already sent an unmanned Orion capsule on a mission around the moon in 2022, followed by the Artemis 2 mission’s four astronauts scheduled to depart on a 10-day mission around the moon in 2026. The moon landing itself will be attempted by 2027 during the Artemis 3 mission.
NASA astronauts will help establish a permanent lunar settlement that will enable future manned missions from the Moon to Mars. Mars is also a long-time target destination for Musk and SpaceX.
Contributed by: Reuters
Eric Lagatta is a Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Please contact elagatta@gannett.com.
