Senate confirms Jared Isaacman as NASA chief
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed billionaire entrepreneur and private astronaut Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator in a 67–30 vote, after President Trump renominated him last month following an earlier withdrawal in April. Isaacman, a 42‑year‑old payments CEO who has flown twice with SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk, will take over the agency as it faces budget cuts and political pressure to land Americans on the Moon by 2028 and outpace China under the Artemis program.
📌 Key Facts
- The Senate confirmed Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator by a 67–30 vote on Wednesday.
- Isaacman was first nominated after Trump’s 2024 election victory, the nomination was withdrawn in April 2025, and then reissued in November before this successful confirmation.
- Isaacman has flown on two SpaceX missions, including the first all‑civilian U.S. orbital flight and the first private spacewalk, and has pledged to prioritize returning Americans to the Moon before China under Artemis.