Senate Confirms New NASA Head After Trump Nominated Him for a Second Time

After 11 months without leadership, the Senate on Wednesday confirmed billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to serve as the new head of NASA.

The Senate voted 67-30, mostly along party lines, to approve Isaacman. Two Republicans, Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, and one Democrat, Sen. Chris Coons, did not vote.

Isaacman, who founded a commerce technology company and is a close ally of billionaire Elon Musk, gained popularity in the space industry for self-funding experimental flights into Earth’s orbit. He’s travelled to space twice, both with Musk’s company, SpaceX.

President Donald Trump in late May pulled his initial nomination for Isaacman, saying he made the decision after a “thorough review” of Isaacman’s “prior associations.”

Just days later, a feud between Musk and Trump broke out into the open thanks to an Oval Office diatribe by the president confirming the pair’s falling out. The Tesla CEO had played an influential role in the beginning months of Trump’s second term.

In November Trump ultimately changed his mind about Isaacman’s candidacy, reversing his position by renominating Isaacman to lead NASA.

Recent financial disclosures show Isaacman has an ongoing deal with Musk’s company worth more than $50 million. SpaceX did not respond to senators’ requests for more details about Isaacman’s financial contributions to the company.

In May, Isaacman published his policy goals for NASA in a 62-page draft agenda called “Project Athena Strategic Plan.” The three highlighted priorities include human space exploration of the moon, Mars and “deep space” to “determine the scientific, economic, and national security value of sustained presence … This includes demonstrating operational nuclear electric propulsion capability.”

Project Athena also calls for NASA to “unlock a broader orbital economy — one that extends beyond launch, observation, and communication — to support commercial activity and generate new sources of value.”

Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington state, on Wednesday called on senators to support Isaacman’s goals of returning astronauts to the moon.

“I am optimistic that Mr. Isaacman will bring a steady hand and clear vision to NASA,” she said. “I hope we can partner together, all of us, to achieve this incredible thing for the American people.”