Trump-Backed Astronaut Jared Isaacman Named NASA Head in High-Stakes Moon Race

By Jim Thomas | Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 5:50 PM EST

The Senate confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on Wednesday, ending a contentious nomination process that placed a Trump-aligned leader at the helm of NASA. This decision occurs as the agency accelerates its Artemis lunar program to return Americans to the moon and compete with China in space.

Isaacman, who has flown to orbit twice on private missions and is closely tied to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, was first nominated by President Donald Trump in late 2024 but saw his nomination withdrawn in May amid White House-Musk tensions. The president renominated him in early November, and he cleared the Senate Commerce Committee before securing final approval from the full Senate.

During testimony ahead of the vote, Isaacman emphasized the urgency of lunar exploration and emerging propulsion technologies. He warned that the United States faces a strategic competition with China: “We are in a great competition with a rival that has the will and means to challenge American exceptionalism across multiple domains, including in the high ground of space,” he told lawmakers. “This is not the time for delay but for action.”

Isaacman’s business history includes founding Shift4 Payments and leading Polaris, a private astronaut program that has conducted multiple SpaceX missions. His connections to the private space sector raised concerns among some senators about potential conflicts of interest and NASA’s scientific priorities.

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz hailed Isaacman’s confirmation as critical for ensuring U.S. leadership in lunar exploration. The appointment marks the first Senate-confirmed NASA administrator in nearly a year, with Isaacman succeeding Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who has served as acting administrator since summer 2025.