4 minute read•Updated 2:01 PM EDT, Sat April 5, 2025
After weeks of growing pressure from space industry leaders, lawmakers, and former astronauts, the Senate Commerce Committee has officially scheduled a confirmation hearing for Jared Isaacman, President Trump’s nominee to lead NASA.
The hearing will take place on Tuesday, April 9, at 10 a.m. Eastern, according to an announcement released late April 2.
Live Coverage: https://youtube.com/live/tSw5YvBIdRs?feature=share
Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur and private astronaut best known for commanding the all-civilian Inspiration4 spaceflight in 2021, and Polaris Dawn in 2024; was first named as the nominee for NASA Administrator by then-President-elect Trump in December.
The nomination was formally submitted to the Senate on January 20. Yet, despite broad support and other agency nominations moving forward, the Commerce Committee had not taken up Isaacman’s nomination until now.
The delay has prompted concern across the space community, with nearly 30 former NASA astronauts signing a public letter on March 21 urging the committee to expedite the confirmation process.
“Jared will be able to apply his vision and business acumen to make NASA a continued leader and fulfill its mission of exploration, inspiration, and discovery while expanding commercial opportunities that benefit all Americans,” - Former Astronauts Letter
Supporters argue that Isaacman’s unique combination of commercial spaceflight experience and business leadership makes him an ideal choice to guide NASA through a transformative era of increased public-private collaboration.
“I think he’s got all the tools to be what could be the most consequential NASA administrator given the era in which we live now.” - Jim Bridenstine, Former NASA Administrator
Mounting Concerns at NASA
The move to schedule the hearing comes amid significant turmoil and uncertainty within NASA.
The new administration’s recent decisions have raised alarms among lawmakers and agency employees alike. A voluntary buyout program described as a “fork in the road” by internal sources has already led to the departure of roughly 900 NASA civil servants, while three offices at NASA Headquarters have been shuttered, cutting 23 positions. Further concerns loom over potential broader layoffs and a looming fiscal year 2026 budget proposal that could include substantial cuts to NASA’s funding.
“I believe these actions will have devastating consequences for both the country and for NASA, and they’ve been proposed or considered while a nominee for a new NASA administrator is still awaiting confirmation,” - Rep. George Whitesides (D-Calif.)
Isaacman in Washington
Isaacman has been actively working Capitol Hill in recent days, participating in the traditional round of pre-hearing meetings with key senators. Among those he met was Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), chair of the Senate Commerce subcommittee on aviation, space, and innovation, and a senior member of the appropriations subcommittee that oversees NASA’s budget.
After the meeting, Moran expressed strong support in a social media post, stating that he and Isaacman had discussed space exploration priorities and their “shared desire to beat our adversaries back to the Moon.” He added, “I am eager for the Commerce Committee to quickly conduct a confirmation hearing on his nomination to lead NASA.”
Despite the April 9 hearing, the earliest the committee is likely to vote on Isaacman’s nomination will be the week of April 28, due to a two-week Senate recess in mid-April.
A successful vote would then move the nomination to the full Senate for final confirmation.
A Critical Moment for NASA
If confirmed, Isaacman would step into NASA’s top leadership role at a time of immense transition. The agency is navigating shifting political priorities, renewed ambitions for human spaceflight to the Moon and Mars, and deepening ties with commercial space companies.
His confirmation could set the tone for how NASA evolves in the coming years; both in terms of technological progress and public trust.
