Former President Donald Trump has re-nominated billionaire investor Jared Isaacman to lead NASA, reversing course after withdrawing his initial nomination five months prior.
The 42-year-old entrepreneur, known for his ties to SpaceX founder Elon Musk, was previously poised to head the space agency before Trump abruptly rescinded the nomination in late May, citing a “thorough review of prior associations.”
While the White House did not elaborate on the nature of these associations, the withdrawal coincided with a period of heightened tensions between Trump and Musk.
Isaacman, whose net worth is estimated at $1.9 billion, is an accomplished amateur pilot and made history last year as the first non-professional astronaut to participate in a spacewalk during a SpaceX mission he personally funded.
The reasons behind Trump’s change of heart remain unclear, and the former president made no reference to past concerns when announcing Isaacman’s re-nomination on his Truth Social platform, stating he was “pleased to nominate” him for the role.
“Jared’s passion for Space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new Space economy, make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new Era,” Trump wrote.
The NASA administrator position would mark Isaacman’s first foray into politics, contrasting with the backgrounds of his two immediate predecessors.
The nomination requires confirmation by the Senate, where the Republican Party currently holds a 53-47 majority. Despite the ongoing government shutdown, the Senate retains the ability to confirm presidential appointees.
In response to the nomination, Isaacman expressed his gratitude to the former president on X, stating that “it will be an honor” to serve in the role.
“The support from the space-loving community has been overwhelming,” he added in a detailed post, while also acknowledging the contributions of NASA scientists and innovators. “I am not sure how I earned the trust of so many, but I will do everything I can to live up to those expectations.”
Sean Duffy, head of the transport department, has been serving as interim NASA chief since July.
Isaacman’s initial nomination withdrawal followed shortly after Elon Musk’s departure from the Trump administration, after a controversial initiative to reduce the size of government departments, resulting in substantial job losses.
Concerns have been raised regarding Isaacman’s close ties to Musk and his significant financial investments in SpaceX. He has also been known to contribute to Democratic campaigns in the past.
His nomination has faced scrutiny, and during his initial confirmation hearing in April, members of both parties questioned Isaacman about potential conflicts of interest, budget priorities, and his ambition to send astronauts to Mars.
Some expressed concerns that he might prioritize a Mars mission over the long-planned Moon mission, but Isaacman asserted that both objectives could be pursued simultaneously.
“We don’t have to make a binary decision of Moon versus Mars, or Moon has to come first versus Mars,” he clarified.
The billionaire, who left high school early, amassed his fortune through the payment processing company Shift4 Payments, which he established in 1999 from his parents’ basement at the age of 16.
Isaacman has a long-standing passion for aviation, having begun pilot lessons in 2004 and later setting a world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe in a light jet.
Donald Trump’s use of tariffs in the last nine months was sharply questioned during arguments before the Supreme Court.
At least nine people are dead and others wounded after UPS flight 2976 burst into flames and hit buildings during take-off.
BBC Verify has pieced together clips being shared online to see how the crash unfolded in Kentucky.
Others were injured when the plane exploded during takeoff near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.
It was an encouraging night for the Democratic Party who scored some decisive wins. Here’s what we learned.