Washington DC [US], June 1 (ANI): President Donald Trump has withdrawn the nomination of Jared Isaacman, billionaire tech entrepreneur and private astronaut, to lead NASA, the White House confirmed. Isaacman, who commanded and funded two SpaceX missions to Earth orbit, was expected to be confirmed by the Senate shortly.
Isaacman’s removal follows the recent official departure of Elon Musk from the White House, where the SpaceX CEO served as a “special government employee” heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Trump announced the withdrawal on his Truth Social platform, stating, “After a thorough review of prior associations, I am hereby withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman to head NASA.” He added, “I will soon announce a new nominee who will be mission aligned and put America first in space.”
According to The New York Times, Trump’s concerns stemmed from Isaacman’s political donations to Democrats in recent campaign cycles, raising doubts about his political loyalty.
White House Assistant Press Secretary Liz Huston emphasized the importance of the NASA Administrator role, noting it will “help lead humanity into space and execute President Trump’s bold mission of planting the American flag on the planet Mars.”
Isaacman, 42, expressed gratitude for the support he received, writing on X, “I have gained a much deeper appreciation for the complexities of government and the weight our political leaders carry.” He acknowledged the challenges but highlighted the dedication of many public servants.
Elon Musk also posted a supportive message on X, calling Isaacman “competent and good-hearted.”
Trump initially announced Isaacman’s nomination in December before his inauguration, and Isaacman had been cleared by the US Congress Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation earlier this year to advance to full Senate confirmation.
Isaacman made history in September last year as the first private astronaut to perform a spacewalk after launching aboard a SpaceX rocket.
Meanwhile, on May 30, the White House unveiled its NASA budget request for the 2026 fiscal year, proposing a significant $6 billion cut—from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion. The plan includes slashing funding for NASA’s science programs by 47 percent, reducing the workforce by nearly a third, and canceling multiple deep space missions such as the Juno Jupiter orbiter and the New Horizons Pluto probe.
(ANI)
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