Senate Commerce Committee Advances Isaacman Nomination
Now Goes to the Full Senate for Confirmation
The Senate Commerce Committee has voted 19-9 to advance the nomination of Jared Isaacman to be the next administrator of NASA. The nomination now moves to the full senate for a final vote.
“Our path to predominance in space begins with the Artemis missions."
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)
In making the case to move the nomination forward to the full senate, Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX) cited Mr. Isaacman's commitment to NASA's Artemis program and a return to the Moon. "Existing law directs NASA to establish 'sustained human presence in cis-lunar space, or on the Moon.' Federal law explicitly calls the moon a 'stepping stone to reaching Mars.' In other words, our path to predominance in space begins with the Artemis missions," Cruz said.
During his confirmation hearings, Isaacman assured the committee he would follow the laws that are on the books, and was enthusiastic about returning humans to the surface of the Moon.
Isaacman, 42, has traveled to space on two occasions on private missions aboard SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, and conducted the first EVA to be performed by a non-NASA astronaut.
If confirmed by the full senate, Isaacman will face budgetary challenges to advance the Artemis missions. And while NASA's SLS will carry the next humans into a lunar orbit, NASA is relying on the SpaceX Starship as a lunar lander, and that system has yet to achieve orbit.
Isaacman was not present for the vote.