Approved In Bipartisan Vote After Unusual Selection Process

The U.S. Senate approved Jared Isaacman for the role of NASA Administrator on December 17 in a 67-30 vote with sixteen Democrats joining 51 Republicans in the confirmation vote, in one of the agency’s most unusual efforts to select a leader in its history.

The full Senate voted after just a few senators spoke on the Senate floor about Isaacman’s nomination.

Sen. Maria Cantwell,(D-WA), the ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, spoke in favor of Isaacman earlier in the day, saying, “I do believe Mr. Isaacman is capable of successfully navigating the challenges facing the agency. I am optimistic that Mr. Isaacman will bring a steady hand and clear vision to NASA.”

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), who chairs the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds NASA as well as the Commerce Committee’s space subcommittee, also spoke in support of the nomination. He said, “The agency needs a permanent, Senate-confirmed leader. I’m confident he will provide the leadership NASA needs to sustain and advance America’s leadership in space.”

The saga of Isaacman’s confirmation began over a year ago and is one for the books when then-President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Isaacman. At that time, Isaacman was well known as the billionaire founder of online payments company Shift4. He subsequently was the commander of two private astronaut missions on board SpaceX’s Crew Dragon: the Inspiration4 in 2021 and Polaris Dawn in late 2024.

Isaacman’s nomination cleared the Senate Commerce Committee in April 2025 and was set for a full Senate vote in June, but on May 31, President Trump withdrew his nomination after what was described as a “thorough review of prior associations.” Those appeared to be referring to Isaacman’s known history of political donations to candidates and organizations of both major parties.

In October, reports began circulating that President Trump was reconsidering Isaacman and held multiple meetings with him. The President finally announced on November 4 that he was going to renominate Isaacman, leading to the recent confirmation process, much of which Isaacman had already gone through. The President did not explain publicly what changed his mind.

FMI:  www.nasa.gov/