Trump withdraws Jared Isaacman’s nomination to lead NASA ‘after a thorough review of prior associations’

By Jackie Wattles and Alejandra Jaramillo, CNN

(CNN) — President Donald Trump on Saturday rescinded his nomination of tech billionaire Jared Isaacman to lead NASA, citing a “thorough review of prior associations.”

The president pledged in a social media post that a new nominee would be “mission aligned” and “put America first in Space.”

“After a thorough review of prior associations, I am hereby withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman to head NASA. I will soon announce a new Nominee who will be Mission aligned, and put America First in Space,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The shake-up comes just days before the Senate was expected to vote on the nomination of Isaacman, who has twice traveled to space on private missions and has close ties to SpaceX chief Elon Musk.

The White House said earlier Saturday it would announce a replacement candidate to serve as Trump’s pick to lead NASA, indicating it was withdrawing Isaacman’s nomination.

“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,” White House assistant press secretary Liz Huston said.

Records on OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan organization that tracks money in politics, show Isaacman donated to Democrats as recently as the 2024 election cycle, though he donated to Republicans in prior years. But on social media, he has largely refrained from voicing a stance on hot-button political issues.

During Isaacman’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation in April, he said he has “been relatively apolitical.”

That posture is in line with how past NASA administrators have sought to position themselves. While the role has been filled by civil servants, engineers, scientists and, more recently, politicians — each has emphasized the importance of working across the aisle.

That’s because NASA’s goals often involve projects that cost billions of dollars and require years of research and development to bring to fruition — often bridging multiple presidential administrations.

Isaacman sent shock waves through the space community when Trump first tapped him for NASA administrator in December, CNN previously reported.

Isaacman’s appointment was also met with broad support in the space community, which viewed him as a passionate leader, and his spaceflight experience was considered a bonus. Isaacman, the CEO of payments platform company Shift4, was viewed with deep skepticism by Democratic lawmakers concerned he would use his position at NASA to advance Musk’s personal interests.

During Isaacman’s confirmation hearing, he signaled he would back an effort to land humans on Mars. The remarks were notable because NASA has been squarely focused on the Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the moon, since Trump’s first term.

Only since Musk became a close Trump ally in 2024 has the president vocalized an interest in human exploration of Mars, which has been Musk’s longtime goal.

Isaacman indicated during the confirmation hearing that he hoped to back both the Artemis program’s underlying goals and “prioritize sending American astronauts to Mars.”

“Along the way (to Mars), we will inevitably have the capabilities to return to the Moon and determine the scientific, economic and national security benefits of maintaining a presence on the lunar surface,” Isaacman said.

CNN has reached out to Isaacman for comment. NASA referred inquiries to the White House.

Musk, who led the Department of Government Efficiency as Trump’s “first buddy,” departed the administration this week. The tech billionaire, who had recently publicly disagreed with Trump, said he’ll “remain a friend and adviser” to the president.

Musk promised to refocus on SpaceX and Starship, the gargantuan rocket system that he hopes will be capable of carrying convoys of humans to Mars. Still in the early stages of development, Starship prototypes have lost control and exploded during three test flights this year, including one on Tuesday.

This story and headline have been updated with additional information.

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