The Senate confirmed Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator on Dec. 17, concluding a more than yearlong and unusually complicated nomination process.
The Senate voted 67-30 to approve Isaacman as the agency’s 15th administrator, with 16 Democrats joining 51 Republicans in supporting the nomination.
President Donald Trump renominated Isaacman last month after unexpectedly withdrawing his original nomination.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump called Isaacman an “accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut” and praised his “passion for space” and “dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration.” Trump did not offer a reason for the renomination.
Isaacman was first nominated in December 2024. His original nomination had cleared a Senate committee in April and was days away from a full Senate vote when Trump withdrew it on May 31, saying a replacement would be announced soon.
No new nominee was named, and in July, Sean Duffy, secretary of transportation, was appointed acting NASA administrator. Duffy replaced Janet Petro, director of the Kennedy Space Center, who had served as acting administrator since January.
Shifting Agendas
During this year-long nomination process, Isaacman appeared twice before the Senate Commerce Committee. In April – in round one of the confirmation process – Isaacman told senators that NASA could pursue lunar and Mars exploration simultaneously.
By his second hearing, he emphasized that the Moon was NASA’s “clear and urgent priority.”
“America will return to the moon before our great rival, and we will establish an enduring presence to understand and realize the scientific, economic, and national security value on the lunar surface,” Isaacman said.
He noted that while parallel efforts toward Mars continue, the immediate focus is on returning astronauts to the Moon through the Artemis program. Artemis II, a crewed fly-around of the Moon, is scheduled in the coming months, followed by Artemis III, which aims to land astronauts on the surface.
Isaacman highlighted the role of commercial space companies in developing reusable launch systems and orbital propellant transfer capabilities, which he described as critical for future missions.
Although he emphasized that the Moon is the immediate focus, Isaacman said lunar missions will lay the groundwork for eventual Mars exploration.