Isaacman has a second chance to make NASA great again
12/14/25 10:00 AM ET
The Senate Commerce Committee has confirmed billionaire entrepreneur and private space traveler Jared Isaacman to be NASA administrator. Isaacman has good hopes of being confirmed by the full Senate before the end of 2025.
Isaacman’s second confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee was a triumph. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) did try a series of gotcha questions about Elon Musk. Isaacman fended them off masterfully.
Most of the questioning was professional and, on the whole, friendly.
Sen. Andy Kim, (D-N.J.) had a back and forth with Isaacman about the so-called “Project Athena,” a plan for reforming NASA that Isaacman had developed during his first nomination process. He stood by the document but noted that it was a work in progress.
Both Markey and Kim ultimately voted no on Isaacman’s nomination. The final vote was 18 ayes, including all of the Republicans and three Democrats, and 10 nays, all Democrats.
Athena is not only a list of possible future projects for NASA, but a blueprint for how the space agency will operate in a world dominated by heavy-hitting commercial space companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin.
It proposes three main goals for NASA in the 21st century: to lead the world in human space exploration, ignite a thriving space economy and become a force-multiplier for science
NASA would be reorganized to meet those goals.
The main theme of the hearing was that of competition — between companies for NASA projects, between profit-making enterprises in space and between countries for domination of space.
Isaacman, who said he “absolutely agrees with competition” offered a mic drop statement: “I think competition among world powers is actually a really good thing … just as long as we don’t lose.”
If approved, Isaacman’s main mandate, informed by Athena and the dictates of his political masters in Congress and the White House, is to get America back on the moon before the Chinese and to establish a lunar base.
He also means to spur NASA on to create new technologies — especially nuclear power and the propulsion necessary to expand human civilization beyond Earth.
If confirmed, Isaacman will also manage the transition from the International Space Station to commercial space platforms.
Finally, the new NASA administrator will have to preserve and reform the space agency’s science programs, currently under budget pressure from the Trump administration.
The moon would occupy much of Isaacman’s attention during the early part of his tenure at NASA.
The first thing he would have to oversee is the Artemis II mission, which will see a crew of four astronauts fly around the moon faster and farther than any humans since the Apollo 17 mission of 53 years ago.
Success of the mission will put the wind at the back of Artemis. Failure is not only not an option, but unthinkable for its potential for human tragedy and the destruction of America’s hope to win the second race to the moon.
Isaacman’s second task would be to make sure America wins that second race.
Some, such as former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, have suggested that China is likely to beat America back to the moon. Isaacman has promised the Senate, Trump and the world that he will not allow that to happen. It is a heavy promise.
His third task would be to establish a permanent base on the moon and to fulfill all of the rest of the promises of Project Athena.
The sad fact of the matter is that because of Trump’s sudden withdrawal of Isaacman’s first nomination, NASA has wasted six months during which it has been almost leaderless.
The situation is unfortunate, to put the matter mildly, and could have been easily avoided given more sober leadership from the White House.
Still, if confirmed, Isaacman would assume control of a NASA buttressed with an unprecedented amount of good will.
He enjoys recommendations from politicians including Trump, former astronauts, Bridenstine and former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver (talk about bipartisanship!), as well as movers and shakers from commercial space and the scientific community.
By experience and temperament, Isaacman has all the right stuff to be able to summon the future of a human civilization that has spread from just one planet to the moon, Mars and beyond.
https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/5646613-senate-commerce-committee-confirms-isaacman/