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Washington, D.C. — Entrepreneur and commercial astronaut Jared Isaacman was sworn in on December 17, as the 15th administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), marking the end of a tumultuous nomination process that spanned more than a year.
Isaacman, 42, took the oath of office in a ceremony at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, administered by U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly. He was joined by his parents, Donald and Sandra Marie Isaacman.
The Senate confirmed Isaacman’s nomination on December 17 in a 67-30 vote, with bipartisan support including 16 Democrats joining Republicans. All opposing votes came from Democrats.
Congratulations! Let's take humanity back to the Moon!
— Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo (@JaneidyEve) December 18, 2025
I want to look at the moon and know there's astronauts building a permanent base!
President Donald Trump first nominated Isaacman in December 2024, shortly after his election victory, praising his “passion for space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration.” The nomination was formally submitted on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2025.
However, Trump withdrew the nomination in May 2025, citing a “thorough review of prior associations,” including Isaacman’s past political donations to Democratic candidates and his ties to SpaceX founder Elon Musk. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy served as acting NASA administrator during the interim period.
After online backlash from space enthusiasts and formal letters from leaders in the aerospace industry who showed support for Isaacman, Trump renominated Isaacman on November 4, 2025, calling him “ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new era.” The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee advanced the nomination after a second confirmation hearing on December 3.
Isaacman, founder and former CEO of payment processing company Shift4 Payments, brings a unique background to the role. He has no prior government experience but is a seasoned pilot with over 8,000 flight hours and commanded two private SpaceX astronaut missions: Inspiration4 in 2021, the first all-civilian orbital flight, and Polaris Dawn in 2024, during which he became the first private citizen to perform a spacewalk.
In his confirmation hearings, Isaacman emphasized accelerating NASA’s efforts to return astronauts to the Moon ahead of China, supporting the Artemis program, and fostering public-private partnerships to expand the space economy. He faced questions about potential conflicts of interest due to his SpaceX collaborations and a leaked document known as “Project Athena,” outlining ideas for reorganizing NASA, including cost reductions in certain science areas. However, the leaked documents do outline that he will support all American aerospace companies and give them equal contract opportunities.
Acting Administrator Sean Duffy congratulated Isaacman on social media, stating, “I wish Jared success as he begins his tenure and leads NASA as we go back to the Moon in 2028 and beat China.”
Isaacman succeeds former Administrator Bill Nelson and takes the helm at a time when NASA is navigating budget constraints, workforce reductions, and ambitious goals for lunar landings and future Mars missions.
In a statement following his swearing-in, Isaacman said, “I am deeply honored to be sworn in as NASA administrator” and pledged to pursue “bold exploration, innovation, and scientific discovery.”
Industry groups, including the Aerospace Industries Association and Space Foundation, welcomed the confirmation, expressing optimism about Isaacman’s leadership in advancing U.S. space priorities.
Author’s note: Thanks for reading Cosmic Chronicles. Write your thoughts in the comment section below. If you have story suggestions or feedback, Direct Message me on social media 𝕏: Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo @JaneidyEve. Read the most recent stories featured below. Thank You.
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