Trump Withdraws Nomination of Musk Ally for NASA Chief

President Donald Trump has withdrawn his nomination of billionaire astronaut Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. The surprise move was announced on Saturday, just days before the Senate was set to vote on Isaacman’s confirmation. A new nominee will be announced soon, according to the White House.

Isaacman, a close ally of Elon Musk and founder of Shift4 Payments, was a private spaceflight pioneer and was seen by many as a strong candidate to modernize the space agency. His nomination had received wide support in the commercial space industry, but some lawmakers had raised concerns over his ties to Musk and political affiliations.

The sudden withdrawal comes shortly after Musk officially ended his role as a special government employee in the Trump administration. Musk had been tasked with leading the Department of Government Efficiency but reportedly clashed with several aides, creating friction within the administration. Sources close to the situation said Musk was disappointed with the decision to remove Isaacman from consideration.

Isaacman’s confirmation had already been delayed several times. During his hearing in April, he spoke about balancing NASA’s current Moon-focused mission with long-term plans to explore Mars. He said both goals were possible and necessary for maintaining US leadership in space exploration.

Despite his efforts to appeal to lawmakers on both sides, political pressure continued to build. Reports suggest that some Republicans were uneasy about Isaacman’s previous donations to Democratic campaigns. Others were skeptical about his deep financial involvement with SpaceX, where he spent millions as a private space customer.

With no clear explanation from Trump or the White House, speculation has grown about who might replace Isaacman. One potential candidate is retired US Air Force Lieutenant General Steven Kwast. Kwast is a known supporter of Trump and an early advocate for the US Space Force. While his name has been mentioned, the administration has not confirmed any final decision.

The timing of Isaacman’s removal adds further uncertainty to NASA’s leadership. The agency is facing massive budget cuts proposed in the Trump administration’s 2026 spending plan. This proposal includes slashing dozens of science programs and laying off thousands of employees. Without a permanent administrator, some fear NASA will struggle to respond effectively.

Several lawmakers had supported Isaacman’s nomination and were surprised by the move. Many in the scientific community also expressed concern that the leadership vacuum could weaken NASA’s ability to manage current missions and prepare for future ones.

Isaacman had spoken publicly about his desire to serve the agency and praised the dedication of its employees. But with the nomination pulled, it is unclear whether he will continue to play a role in space policy or government service.

The White House has said that a new nominee will be announced soon. Until then, NASA continues to operate under acting leadership, facing both political pressure and funding uncertainty.