Jared Isaacman will not become NASA’s administrator after US President Donald Trump withdrew the nomination over the weekend.
“After a thorough review of prior associations, I am hereby withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman to head NASA,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “I will soon announce a new nominee who will be mission-aligned and put America First in space.”
The president did not say what those prior associations were. However, on May 31 (US time), White House spokesperson Liz Huston said, “it’s essential that the next leader of NASA is in complete alignment with President Trump’s America First agenda.”
On May 30, Isaacman heard the bad news from the White House. He was just days away from receiving US Senate confirmation. Isaacman had already navigated a Senate Commerce Committee hearing in April.
A gracious response from Isaacman
Responding on X after the news broke, Jared Isaacman said he was grateful to Trump and his supporters. “The past six months have been enlightening and, honestly, a bit thrilling. I have gained a much deeper appreciation for the complexities of government and the weight our political leaders carry,” he said.
“It may not always be obvious through the discourse and turbulence, but there are many competent, dedicated people who love this country and care deeply about the mission,” Isaacman continued. “That was on full display during my hearing, where leaders on both sides of the aisle made clear they’re willing to fight for the world’s most accomplished space agency.”
“The President, NASA and the American people deserve the very best – an administrator ready to reorganise, rebuild and rally the best and brightest minds to deliver the world-changing headlines NASA was built to create.”
It is unclear what Isaacman did to lose Trump’s support. In December, when nominating Isaacman, Trump said that “Jared will drive NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration.”
Isaacman, the founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, had the support of much of the space sector.
Unclear why Isaacman lost Trump’s support
There are reports his business interests with SpaceX may be behind Trump’s decision. Isaacman had flown twice to space using SpaceX infrastructure and booked two more flights.
During the April hearings, some politicians raised concerns about his perceived closeness to SpaceX founder Elon Musk. Isaacman was the SpaceX founder’s pick to lead NASA. But Isaacman sought to downplay the relationship. After six months of working closely with Trump, Musk left the White House in late May, albeit on good terms.
The news disappointed Musk. “It is rare to find someone so competent and good-hearted,” he said on X over the weekend.
Some Republicans had also criticised Isaacman because he had previously donated to the Democrats.
It is also unclear who will replace Isaacman as the NASA nominee. One early name is Lieutenant General Steven Kwast. A Trump supporter, Kwast was also an early supporter of the US Space Force, which was officially launched during Trump’s first presidency.
“I have not flown my last mission, whatever form that may ultimately take,” Isaacman said. “But I remain incredibly optimistic that humanity’s greatest spacefaring days lie ahead. I’ll always be grateful for this opportunity and cheering on our President and NASA as they lead us on the greatest adventure in human history.”
