Trump re-nominates billionaire Jared Isaacman to lead NASA

US President Donald Trump has re-nominated tech billionaire Jared Isaacman to lead NASA, announcing the decision on social media on November 4.

Isaacman — a close associate of Elon Musk who has twice travelled to space aboard private SpaceX missions — had previously been selected for the same position before Trump abruptly withdrew the nomination earlier this year, citing a “thorough review of prior associations.”

“This evening, I am pleased to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of NASA,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Jared’s passion for Space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new Space economy make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new Era.”

Shortly after Trump’s post, Isaacman expressed gratitude for the renewed nomination and reaffirmed his commitment to NASA’s mission.

“To the innovators building the orbital economy, to the scientists pursuing breakthrough discoveries and to dreamers across the world eager for a return to the Moon and the grand journey beyond–these are the most exciting times since the dawn of the space age–and I truly believe the future we have all been waiting for will soon become reality,” he said in a post on X.

The announcement follows weeks of internal tension within the Trump administration over NASA’s leadership. According to two sources familiar with the matter cited by CNN, some officials had grown frustrated with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who has been serving as NASA’s acting administrator. Duffy reportedly expressed interest in permanently leading the space agency and proposed integrating NASA into the Department of Transportation, one source said.

Over the summer, Trump and Isaacman reportedly reestablished communication, and it soon became evident that Isaacman had reemerged as the frontrunner for the top NASA post.

Isaacman’s return to consideration comes at a pivotal time for the space agency. NASA is racing to return astronauts to the Moon amid growing geopolitical competition with China, which has pledged to land its taikonauts there by 2030.

If confirmed, Isaacman would take charge as NASA faces significant internal and financial pressures, including widespread concern among its workforce about job cuts and a proposed 47% reduction to its science budget under Trump’s latest fiscal plan. Isaacman himself has described such proposed budget cuts as “suboptimal.”

During his April confirmation hearing, Isaacman fielded broad questions about how NASA’s priorities might evolve under his leadership. He signalled a strong interest in Mars exploration — a focus long championed by Musk and SpaceX — while also addressing security concerns from lawmakers who warned that reducing emphasis on lunar missions could give China an advantage.

“We don’t have to make a binary decision of Moon versus Mars,” Isaacman said during the hearing, taking a conciliatory approach that was later praised across much of the space industry.

However, some observers have voiced scepticism about how NASA would finance its ambitious goals under the Trump administration’s tighter budget framework, leaving questions about how Isaacman’s leadership could reshape the agency’s direction in the coming years.

By Tamilla Hasanova