Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been serving as the acting chief of the space program for the past several months.
Trailblazing civilian astronaut Jared Isaacman is once again President Donald Trump’s choice for NASA’s administrator.
“This evening, I am pleased to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of NASA. 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,” Trump said on Truth Social on Nov. 4. “Congratulations to Jared, his wife Monica, and their children, Mila and Liv.”
Originally selected to head America’s space program in December 2024, Isaacman’s consideration process advanced past the Senate committee hearings to be voted on by the entire upper chamber. However, that nomination was suddenly revoked on May 31 before lawmakers could make a decision.
The White House at the time suggested that Isaacman did not completely align with the administration’s agenda for space, particularly Trump’s ambitions to land on Mars.
“The administrator of NASA will help lead humanity into space and execute President Trump’s bold mission of planting the American flag on the planet Mars,” White House spokesperson Liz Huston said in an email to The Epoch Times.
“It’s essential that the next leader of NASA is in complete alignment with President Trump’s America First agenda, and a replacement will be announced directly by President Trump soon,” she continued.
Isaacman has accepted the new nomination.
“Thank you, Mr. President @POTUS, for this opportunity,” he said on X on Nov. 4. “It will be an honor to serve my country under your leadership. I am also very grateful to @SecDuffy, who skillfully oversees @NASA alongside his many other responsibilities.”
Thank you, Mr. President @POTUS, for this opportunity. It will be an honor to serve my country under your leadership. I am also very grateful to @SecDuffy, who skillfully oversees @NASA alongside his many other responsibilities.
— Jared Isaacman (@rookisaacman) November 4, 2025
The support from the space-loving community has… pic.twitter.com/CUpyTXfB14
“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 continued. “And to the best and brightest at NASA, and to all the commercial and international partners, we have an extraordinary responsibility—but the clock is running.”
Isaacman added, “The journey is never easy, but it is time to inspire the world once again to achieve the near-impossible—to undertake and accomplish big, bold endeavors in space … and when we do, we will make life better here at home and challenge the next generation to go even further.”
By T.J. Muscaro
