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The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Jason Isaacman to lead the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), bringing the roller-coaster road for approving a full-time head of the agency to an end.
Senators voted 67 to 30 on Isaacman, who was nominated for a second time to the post in early November — after his nomination to the same position was pulled in late May amid President Trump’s public feud with Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur, is a top ally of Musk, who also owns SpaceX and social platform X.
His confirmation puts him atop an agency that is expected to try and follow through with one of Trump’s goals: returning humans to the moon before China.
“This is not the time for delay but a time for action because if we fall behind — if we make a mistake — we may never catch up, and the consequences could shift the balance of power here on Earth,” Isaacman said in his confirmation hearing earlier this month.
He has pitched a plan of increasing competition among private sector entities as part of the effort to return to the moon.
Isaacman will replace Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who has served as interim administrator since the summer.
He is the first Senate-confirmed head of NASA since former Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.).
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Jason Isaacman to lead the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), bringing the roller-coaster road for approving a full-time head of the agency to an end.
Senators voted 67 to 30 on Isaacman, who was nominated for a second time to the post in early November — after his nomination to the same position was pulled in late May amid President Trump’s public feud with Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur, is a top ally of Musk, who also owns SpaceX and social platform X.
His confirmation puts him atop an agency that is expected to try and follow through with one of Trump’s goals: returning humans to the moon before China.
“This is not the time for delay but a time for action because if we fall behind — if we make a mistake — we may never catch up, and the consequences could shift the balance of power here on Earth,” Isaacman said in his confirmation hearing earlier this month.
He has pitched a plan of increasing competition among private sector entities as part of the effort to return to the moon.
Isaacman will replace Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who has served as interim administrator since the summer.
He is the first Senate-confirmed head of NASA since former Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.).
