The US Senate has confirmed billionaire investor Jared Isaacman as the new administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), concluding an unusual nomination process where President Donald Trump put his name forward, withdrew it, and then renominated him for the post.
Lawmakers voted 67–30 on Wednesday to approve Isaacman, 42, who becomes the first NASA administrator in decades to come directly from outside government. An amateur jet pilot and entrepreneur, Isaacman is also the first non-professional astronaut to have conducted a spacewalk.
His leadership of the space agency is expected to be closely scrutinised, particularly over whether the United States can return humans to the Moon ahead of China. President Trump has made clear his ambition for the US to establish a permanent lunar base, aimed at enabling resource extraction and serving as a launch point for future missions to Mars.
Trump first announced Isaacman’s nomination in December 2024 but withdrew it in May amid a public feud with Elon Musk, a close Trump ally and Isaacman associate. Musk, the chief executive of SpaceX and one of Trump’s largest political donors, 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 recent confirmation hearing, Isaacman voiced strong support for Trump’s lunar ambitions, warning senators that delays could have far-reaching consequences. “This is not the time for delay but a time for action,” he said, arguing that falling behind in the space race could shift the global balance of power.
Isaacman has advocated increased private sector involvement in space exploration, viewing competition as essential to maintaining US leadership. However, his openness to commercial partnerships may place him at odds with Musk. Last week, he publicly praised NASA’s decision to award a major contract to Blue Origin, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and a key rival to SpaceX.
He has also proposed deeper collaboration between NASA and universities, describing the agency as a potential “force multiplier for science.” Isaacman has said he is willing to pursue every possible option to accelerate innovation, even suggesting he could personally fund certain programmes if necessary.
According to Forbes, Isaacman’s net worth is estimated at $1.2bn (£894m), largely derived from his payment-processing business and the sale of a company involved in pilot training and private military aviation. The NASA administrator post marks his first role in government.
Isaacman will replace Sean Duffy, the US transportation secretary, who has served as interim NASA chief since July.
Melissa Enoch
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