Trump to announce new pick for NASA chief after dropping Isaacman

The White House announced Saturday that President Donald Trump will soon unveil a new nominee to lead NASA, confirming that tech billionaire Jared Isaacman is no longer in consideration for the role. While no official explanation was given for the reversal, the move came just days before the Senate was expected to vote on Isaacman’s confirmation.

“It is essential that the next leader of NASA is in complete alignment with President Trump’s America First agenda and a replacement will be announced directly by President Trump soon,” White House spokeswoman Liz Huston was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.

Isaacman, who has twice flown on private space missions and has close ties to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, drew widespread attention in December when President Trump nominated him to head the space agency. His selection surprised many in the space community, given his background in the private sector.

News outlet Semafor, citing sources familiar with the matter, was the first to report that the White House was planning to withdraw Isaacman’s nomination.

Isaacman recently went through a confirmation hearing with the Senate Commerce Committee. On April 30, the committee voted to move his nomination forward to the full Senate. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota has taken steps to schedule a vote once the Senate reconvenes after the Memorial Day recess.

However, concerns have emerged among Isaacman’s supporters, particularly over the possibility that the White House might withdraw his nomination. A key point of contention is Isaacman’s close business relationship with Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla.

During his confirmation hearing, Isaacman addressed those concerns by distancing himself from Musk. Notably, he voiced his commitment to a lunar landing if confirmed, a priority that diverges from Musk’s own views, as Musk has previously downplayed lunar missions, calling them a “distraction.”