Senate complicates Isaacman confirmation for NASA
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Jared Isaacman (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Sen. Ted Cruz has scheduled a Dec. 3 hearing for Jared Isaacman, the billionaire entrepreneur and commercial astronaut renominated to lead NASA, before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
Why it matters: The hearing, Isaacman's second, will give senators an opportunity to ask him fresh questions about his plans for space exploration and the Trump administration's priorities in space.
- But the new hearing will mean that Isaacman will not be confirmed by the Senate in the next batch of nominees, which will likely see the floor in the first week of December.
- Isaacman's allies in the Senate had argued that his April hearing, held when he was first nominated, should be sufficient and that he could move directly to a committee vote.
- Those plans were upended by Cruz's (R-Texas) decision to hold a new hearing.
What they are saying: "I know @rookisaacman is committed to having American astronauts return to the lunar surface and to developing the capacity to reach Mars. Great meeting today, and I look forward to having him before the Commerce Committee on December 3," Cruz said on X, standing next to Isaacman in his Senate office.
- "Just heard about it, and so glad he's doing it," Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the ranking member of the committee told Axios, referring to the upcoming hearing.
- "And look forward to asking him about the plans that (Transportation) Secretary (Sean) Duffy put on the table," she added.
Zoom out: Isaacman has the unique distinction of being nominated, then withdrawn and then renominated to be NASA administrator.
- The hearing will force Isaacman to defend some positions he took in a 62-page manifesto — entitled "Project Athena" — that was circulated on Capitol Hill earlier this year. Portions of it were publicized in November by Ars Technica.
- But it will also preserve his ability to be reported out of the committee — a second time, with a bipartisan vote.
- That would also allow him to win Democratic votes on the floor, when the full Senate considers his nomination.
Zoom in: A senior administration official said Isaacman's positions are the same as they were ahead of the first hearing.
- A senior congressional aide cast blame back on the White House for withdrawing the nomination, causing the process to restart.
The bottom line: Isaacman won't get a quick confirmation vote. But his nomination isn't doomed.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
