WASHINGTON, June 1 — US President Donald Trump announced late Saturday that he is withdrawing the nomination of tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to lead NASA, citing a “thorough review of prior associations.”
Isaacman, a billionaire known for his ties to Elon Musk and private space missions aboard SpaceX rockets, had been selected by Trump in December to head the U.S. space agency. His confirmation had already cleared the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in April and was awaiting a full Senate vote.
“After a thorough review of prior associations, I am hereby withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman to head NASA,” Trump posted on his social media platform. “I will soon announce a new nominee who will be mission aligned and put America First in space.”
The White House did not immediately clarify what specific “associations” were under review.
Isaacman, 42, is the founder and CEO of Shift4, a payment processing firm, and gained national attention after purchasing multiple private spaceflights from SpaceX, including leading the first all-civilian orbital mission and conducting the first private spacewalk.
His nomination was widely seen as a reflection of Trump’s close ties with Musk, whose company SpaceX holds numerous NASA contracts. Musk, who recently stepped down as head of the Trump-created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), expressed disappointment over the decision.
“It is rare to find someone so competent and good-hearted,” Musk posted on X, in response to the news.
Isaacman’s withdrawal was first reported by Semafor.
Trump’s move comes amid broader reshuffling in his transition team and cabinet picks, as he prepares for a potential return to the White House. A new NASA nominee is expected to be announced “soon,” according to the former president.
