The White House confirmed that President Donald Trump has withdrawn NASA nominations from billionaire tech entrepreneur and private astronaut Jared Isaacman, who has directed and funded two SpaceX missions to Earth orbit.
Isaacman was removed from office only a few days after Elon Musk officially left the White House, SpaceX CEO took on the role of a “special government employee” leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Trump said he will announce a new candidate soon. The U.S. President posted on his Truth Social Platform on Saturday that “After a thorough review of the previous association, I hereby withdraw Jared Isaacman’s nomination.”
“I will announce a new nominee soon, and he will be consistent and put the United States in space,” he said.
The move comes days before the Senate originally voted on his confirmation, where he is widely expected to be approved.
President Donald Trump expressed concerns about Isaacman’s political loyalty, according to the New York Times. The news outlet reported that during the past two campaign cycles, Trump was told Isaacman to donate to Democrats.
“NASA administrators will help humans enter space and carry out President Trump’s bold mission to plant the American flag on Mars on Mars,” White House assistant press secretary Liz Huston told Fox News numbers on Saturday.
Isaacman, 42, said he was “very grateful” to Trump and everyone who supported me.
He posted on X: “I have gained a deeper appreciation for the complexity of government and the weight our political leaders have to bear. This may not always be obvious through discourse and turbulence, but there are many capable, dedicated people who love the country and care deeply about the mission.”
At the same time, Musk also appeared on X to release: “Very few people can find someone who is so capable and kind.”
Trump announced his choice of Jared Isaacman in December ahead of the president’s inauguration, and the nominee appears ready to be confirmed by the U.S. Congress.
The U.S. Congressional Commerce, Science and Transportation Commission voted to pass his nomination for the full Senate to confirm in April.
Issacman became the first private astronaut to conduct a spacewalk after launching on SpaceX Rocket last September.
Meanwhile, on May 30, the White House issued a NASA budget request for the 2026 fiscal year. The documents suggest that the agency cut its $6 billion budget, increasing from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion, with funding for NASA’s scientific program down 47%.
It shows that NASA’s workforce will drop by nearly a third, for example, dozens of the agency’s scientific missions – including Juno Jupiter Orbiter, New Horizons Pluto Prope and many other spacecraft that are currently collecting data in deep space – will be cancelled.
