The US Senate has confirmed billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman as the new administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), concluding an unusually turbulent nomination process in which President Donald Trump first nominated, then withdrew, and later renominated him for the post.
Lawmakers voted 67–30 on Wednesday to approve Isaacman, 42, making him the first NASA administrator in decades to come directly from outside the federal government. An amateur jet pilot and entrepreneur, Isaacman is also the first non-professional astronaut to have conducted a spacewalk.
Isaacman’s tenure at NASA is expected to face intense scrutiny, particularly regarding the United States’ race to return humans to the Moon ahead of China.
President Trump has expressed ambitions for a permanent lunar base, intended to enable resource extraction and serve as a launch point for future missions to Mars.
Trump initially announced Isaacman’s nomination in December 2024 but withdrew it in May following a public dispute with Elon Musk, a close ally and associate of Isaacman.
Musk, CEO of SpaceX and a major Trump donor, had clashed with the president over government spending. Trump cited a “thorough review of prior associations” when pulling the nomination, before renominating Isaacman in November.
During his confirmation hearing, Isaacman voiced strong support for Trump’s lunar ambitions, urging senators that “this is not the time for delay but a time for action,” warning that falling behind in the space race could shift the global balance of power.
Isaacman has championed increased private sector participation in space exploration, framing competition as essential to maintaining US leadership.
However, his willingness to collaborate with multiple commercial partners may put him at odds with Musk; last week, Isaacman publicly praised NASA’s decision to award a major contract to Blue Origin, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, a key rival to SpaceX.
He has also proposed closer collaboration between NASA and universities, describing the agency as a “force multiplier for science.” Isaacman has indicated he is willing to explore all avenues to accelerate innovation, including potentially funding certain programs personally if necessary.
According to Forbes, Isaacman’s net worth is estimated at $1.2 billion (£894 million), primarily from his payment-processing business and the sale of a company involved in pilot training and private military aviation. The NASA administrator role marks his first government appointment.
Isaacman succeeds Sean Duffy, US Transportation Secretary, who has served as interim NASA chief since July.
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