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Author
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Topic: Jared Isaacman named for NASA Administrator
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 54668
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-31-2025 03:07 PM
   
Trump is pulling his nomination of Jared Isaacman for NASA Admnistrator. The full statement from the White House: The Administrator of NASA will help lead humanity into space and execute President Trump's bold mission of planting the American flag on the planet Mars. 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. |
issman1
Member Posts: 1175
From: UK
Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 05-31-2025 06:40 PM
As a foreign observer, it seems to me that with Musk's ally Isaacman falling out of favour with Trump this may not bode well for Musk or NASA. |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1778
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 05-31-2025 07:22 PM
I could be wrong, but my guess is it’s because Isaacman and Trump don’t see eye to eye on going to the moon before Mars. Which tells me there’s going to be a huge shakeup in our human spaceflight program. Trump isn’t the type to buckle under to political pressure, especially from people who don’t like Musk. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 54668
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-31-2025 07:33 PM
According to the latest reporting, Trump pulled the nomination after learning that Isaacman had donated to prominent Democrats. Mr. Trump told associates he had learned from allies that Mr. Isaacman had donated to Democrats, including Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona and former Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, as well as the California Democratic Party, during the past two campaign cycles, the people with knowledge of the deliberations said.Mr. Trump told advisers he was surprised he had not been told about those donations previously, two people briefed on the matter said, neither of whom was authorized to discuss the matter. Sergio Gor, the director of the Presidential Personnel Office who has clashed with Mr. Musk over nominees, supported Mr. Trump's moving to withdraw the nomination, two other people briefed on the matter said. |
SkyMan1958
Member Posts: 1410
From: CA.
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 05-31-2025 07:34 PM
I suspect it is more of a function of Isaacman not being on board with Trump gutting space science at NASA. After all, canning HST, Curiosity, Perseverance and the Nancy Roman space telescope to name just some highlights/lowlights is in my opinion a pretty massive ask of any NASA Administrator. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 54668
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-31-2025 07:39 PM
Just to be clear, none of the missions you listed (HST, Curiosity, Perseverance and the Nancy Roman space telescope) are cut by the President's budget request. That said, 40 other missions are. For discussion of that, see here. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 54668
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-31-2025 09:21 PM
Statement from Jared Isaacman: I am incredibly grateful to President Trump, the Senate and all those who supported me throughout this journey. The past six months have been enlightening and, honestly, a bit thrilling. I have gained a much deeper appreciation for the complexities of government and the weight our political leaders carry.It may not always be obvious through the discourse and turbulence, but there are many competent, dedicated people who love this country and care deeply about the mission. That was on full display during my hearing, where leaders on both sides of the aisle made clear they’re willing to fight for the world’s most accomplished space agency. The President, NASA and the American people deserve the very best — an Administrator ready to reorganize, rebuild and rally the best and brightest minds to deliver the world-changing headlines NASA was built to create. I have not flown my last mission — whatever form that may ultimately take — but I remain incredibly optimistic that humanity's greatest spacefaring days lie ahead. I'll always be grateful for this opportunity and cheering on our President and NASA as they lead us on the greatest adventure in human history. |
denali414
Member Posts: 907
From: Raleigh, NC
Registered: Aug 2017
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posted 06-01-2025 05:06 AM
Well, as said previously, I think this is just the next step to canceling SLS and Gateway and we will have wasted all these billions, so Elon can use the budget for his Mars ego quest. I think science and quest for exploration outside the massive money for Mars will go by the wayside. Dark times ahead, in my opinion. |
star61
Member Posts: 324
From: Bristol UK
Registered: Jan 2005
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posted 06-01-2025 06:06 AM
The saddest thing is, I am sure all of us space cadets desperately want humanity to get to Mars and beyond, but it's the way it's being done that hurts. Honesty about motivation is lacking somewhat. Trump has zero interest in Mars or anything remotely scientific or technical. Observe what's happening to science generally in the USA under his dis-order. It's about ego.
He just wants his name associated with Mars as Kennedy's was with the Moon. I realise unfortunately, NASA has been a political football since its inception. However, the chaos of the present administration could cause irreparable damage to an institution that people from all over the world have loved and admired for decades. This is not about differing political views anymore. I am still shocked that this man gets a pass on so many fronts and hope, somehow, wiser heads prevail in NASA's future trajectory. |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1514
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 06-02-2025 09:09 AM
Hopefully Janet Petro, acting Administrator, is given a shot at the job? Also that Matt Anderson is kept as a nominee as Deputy Administrator. What NASA needs right now is stability, not chaos - despite that the President feels 'comfortable' with keeping balls juggling and plates spinning in the air and occasionally crashing, or infighting within his own White House and cabinet. It's counterproductive and damaging to long-term space goals and US space prestige. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 54668
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-02-2025 09:24 AM
From the President via social media: 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. Thank you for your attention to this matter! New reporting from CNN, says that "past associations" was largely Elon Musk: The source told CNN that Musk’s exit left room for a faction of people in Trump's inner circle, particularly Sergio Gor, the director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office and longtime MAGA supporter, to advocate for installing a different nominee. "This was really that Elon rubbed a couple people wrong," the source told CNN. "I wouldn't be surprised if other Elon-connected people are going to find their way out at some point." |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1995
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 06-02-2025 08:28 PM
quote:
Originally posted by star61:
...all of us space cadets desperately want humanity to get to Mars and beyond
NASA was never going to be the conduit. |
star61
Member Posts: 324
From: Bristol UK
Registered: Jan 2005
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posted 06-03-2025 06:25 AM
That's a strange comment?Russia/USSR, ESA, China and India have all sent missions to Mars through their national space organisations. I'm sure the intent is there to at least be considering crewed missions at some point in the future. There may have been internal friction between the Moon and Mars factions, but NASA was still essentially the only game in town. Various ideas and possible architectures have been posited by NASA since von Braun's time. SpaceX may be the main source of potential hardware at the moment, but when the chaos of the present administration passes into history, who knows what will happen. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1995
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 06-03-2025 07:14 AM
Never has been seriously funded or backed by the US government. NASA has sent probes to all the planets. It's not an intent of anything. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 54668
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-03-2025 07:50 AM
Going to the moon was never seriously backed by the U.S. government until it was. Just because it hasn't happened yet, does not mean it won't happen in the future. Just like Apollo, it requires a "perfect storm" of events to line up and then what seemed like the impossible, happens.As for SpaceX, I doubt Musk and company would turn away government funding for its Mars plans were the White House and Congress to provide for such. After all, SpaceX had no specific plans for sending Starship to the surface of the moon until they won a government contract to do so. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1995
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 06-03-2025 03:25 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Going to the moon was never seriously backed by the U.S. government until it was.
I don't think we are going to get a Kennedy speech to go to Mars. Lacking a need and commitment, it just isn't going to happen and China isn't reason. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 54668
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-05-2025 08:25 AM
Jared Isaacman believes his nomination to be administrator of NASA was pulled by the White House because of his ties to Elon Musk, reports SpaceNews citing a recent interview with Isaacman. Appearing on an episode of the All-In Podcast published June 4, Isaacman said he was informed by the White House May 30 that President Trump was withdrawing his nomination to lead the space agency, a move that became public the next day. The podcast appearance provided his first public comments about the withdrawn nomination other than social media posts. ..."I don't need to play dumb on this," he said. "I don't think that the timing was much of a coincidence, that there were other changes going on the same day." Musk marked his formal end as a "special government employee" serving as de facto head of the White House's Department of Government Efficiency on May 30. The relationship between Trump and Musk had reportedly become strained before Musk's formal departure, and since then Musk has been critical of a budget resolution bill backed by President Trump that is currently being considered by the Senate. Musk argues the bill would result in a major increase in the national debt. "There were some people that had some axes to grind, I guess, and I was a good, visible target," Isaacman added. |
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