Latest news with #Isaacman
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump withdraws nominee to lead NASA Jared Isaacman, a close ally of Elon Musk
WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump has pulled his nomination of Jared Isaacman, a billionaire commercial astronaut with close ties to Elon Musk, as his nominee to serve as administrator of NASA. The White House confirmed the withdrawal on May 31 and said Trump will soon announce a new nominee to lead NASA. No reason was provided for parting ways with Isaacman, who led and financed private astronaut missions Polaris Dawn and Inspiration4, which was carried out by Musk's SpaceX. The withdrawal, first reported by the news website Semafor, comes after the 42-year-old Isaacman already cleared the Senate Commerce Committee in April and appeared on track for a full Senate vote. '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," White House Assistant Press Secretary Liz Huston said in a statement. "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." More: Elon Musk's rise and fall: From Trump's chainsaw-wielding sidekick to a swift exit The move comes a day after Musk, a business partner and friend of Isaacman, left the White House after spending four months as a senior White House adviser overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk joined Trump for an Oval Office news conference to mark the end of the billionaire Tesla and SpaceX CEO's tenure in the White House. "It is rare to find someone so competent and good-hearted," Musk said in a post on X, in reaction to Trump's decision to withdraw Isaacman's nomination. Conservative activist Laura Loomer, who has proven influential in many Trump decisions, raised alarm about the status of Isaacman's nomination in an X post, hours before the White House confirmed it was being withdrawn, writing, "There is reason to believe that Isaacman may be facing retaliation because of his friendship with Musk." More: Trump's pick to head NASA has been to space twice: Recapping billionaire's missions Isaacman, founder and CEO of the payment processing company Shift4 Payments, undertook his first private space venture in 2021, when he was commander and financier of the world's first all-civilian extended mission to space. In 2024, he returned to space with an all-civilian crew of amateur spacefarers with the Polaris Dawn mission, which he jointly funded with SpaceX. Isaacman drew concern from some lawmakers over his ties to Musk and SpaceX. During his Senate confirmation hearing in April, he sought to balance NASA's existing moon-aligned space exploration strategy with the Trump administration's push for a space mission to Mars, saying the U.S. can plan for travel to both destinations. As a potential leader of NASA's some 18,000 employees, Isaacman faced a daunting task of implementing that decision to prioritize Mars, given that NASA has spent years and billions of dollars trying to return its astronauts to the moon. NASA, which has about 18,000 employees, has lacked a full-time administrator since Bill Nelson, NASA administrator in the Biden administration, stepped down on Jan. 20 when Trump was inaugurated. Contributing: Eric Lagatta of USA TODAY and Reuters Reach Joey Garrison @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: President Trump withdraws nominee to lead NASA Jared Isaacman
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Billionaire pilot who sparked outrage with social media post about recent flight is withdrawn by Trump for NASA: 'Don't just be a shill'
On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced he is withdrawing the nomination of billionaire pilot Jared Isaacman, who was slated to lead NASA, according to the Associated Press. The outlet noted that Trump posted a message to social media, writing that the decision came "after a thorough review of prior associations." Before the withdrawal, not necessarily part of Trump's concerns, a recent X post from Isaacman was making some people uneasy about the pick, and it was not hard to see why. In late March, Isaacman posted a photo showing himself flying a Cessna CJ4 into Washington, D.C. Futurism quickly picked up the post, and the internet lit up almost instantly. Why? Because at a time when we're all being asked to do more to fight the overheating planet (reduce car trips, fly less, eat more sustainably, recycle), this kind of flex feels like a slap in the face. NASA has been very public about how seriously it takes the climate crisis. The agency studies sea level rise and even builds animations dedicated to visualizing air pollution. So, what's someone who aspires to lead this organization doing in a vehicle that emits two tons of carbon dioxide per hour? While Trump did not give specific reasons for withdrawing the nomination, the timing also didn't help the optics of the initial pick. NASA is facing budget cuts and layoffs, so seeing someone with billionaire ties and luxury travel habits possibly stepping into a top role raised even more eyebrows. X users had a lot to say about Isaacman's nomination. One wrote, "Yeah, definitely need more billionaires in government looking out for the average American." Another had asked Isaacman to "protect the agency's earth and space science missions. Don't just be a shill for Elon [Musk]." Many people were concerned that someone so deeply connected to private space companies, including Musk's SpaceX, could have ended up putting business interests ahead of NASA's public mission, especially its work on Earth science and climate research. Can someone who chooses to fly a private fighter jet for a quick trip to D.C. really champion a science-first, climate-conscious agenda? At the very least, opting for a commercial flight (or even taking the train) would've sent a stronger message about leading by example. According to the AP, Trump said he will announce a replacement nominee soon. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump pulls Jared Isaacman nomination to lead NASA days before vote
June 2 (UPI) -- Just days before the U.S. Senate was set to hold a confirmation vote, President Donald Trump withdrew Jared Isaacman's nomination for NASA administrator, citing "prior associations." While the White House did not reveal specifics about why the nomination was being pulled, spokesperson Liz Huston confirmed Monday that the administration is looking for a new candidate to lead the agency. "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," Huston said. "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." On Saturday, Trump revealed in a post on Truth Social that he was withdrawing the nomination "after a thorough review of prior associations," without providing more details. "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 will put America First in space," Trump said. Isaacman was expected to be confirmed this week after Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., filed cloture on the nomination May 22. Several Democratic members of the Senate Commerce Committee had voted with Republicans in April to favorably report the nomination to the full Senate. Isaacman, a commercial astronaut and billionaire businessman with ties to SpaceX, led the first all-civilian space flight into orbit and had received the endorsement of 28 former NASA astronauts. Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., criticized the administration's decision to pull his nomination. "Astronaut and successful businessman Isaacman was a strong choice by President Trump to lead NASA," Sheet wrote in a post on X. "I was proud to introduce Jared at his hearing and strongly oppose efforts to derail his nomination." NASA released details Friday about its proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, which includes 25% cuts to the space agency's overall spending. In April, Isaacman criticized reports that science funding could be cut by nearly 50%, saying it "does not appear to be an optimal outcome." After Trump's weekend post, Isaacman -- who was nominated last December -- thanked the president and the Senate "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," Isaacman wrote Saturday in a post on X. "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."
UPI
a day ago
- Business
- UPI
Trump pulls Jared Isaacman nomination to lead NASA days before vote
Jared Isaacman, President Donald Trump's nominee to be administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), looks on during a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing on his nomination at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on April 9, 2025. Over the weekend, Trump revealed he would withdraw Isaacman's nomination "after a thorough review of prior associations." File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo June 2 (UPI) -- Just days before the U.S. Senate was set to hold a confirmation vote, President Donald Trump withdrew Jared Isaacman's nomination for NASA administrator, citing "prior associations." While the White House did not reveal specifics about why the nomination was being pulled, spokesperson Liz Huston confirmed Monday that the administration is looking for a new candidate to lead the agency. "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," Huston said. "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." On Saturday, Trump revealed in a post on Truth Social that he was withdrawing the nomination "after a thorough review of prior associations," without providing more details. "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 will put America First in space," Trump said. Isaacman was expected to be confirmed this week after Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., filed cloture on the nomination May 22. Several Democratic members of the Senate Commerce Committee had voted with Republicans in April to favorably report the nomination to the full Senate. Isaacman, a commercial astronaut and billionaire businessman with ties to SpaceX, led the first all-civilian space flight into orbit and had received the endorsement of 28 former NASA astronauts. Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., criticized the administration's decision to pull his nomination. "Astronaut and successful businessman Isaacman was a strong choice by President Trump to lead NASA," Sheet wrote in a post on X. "I was proud to introduce Jared at his hearing and strongly oppose efforts to derail his nomination." NASA released details Friday about its proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, which includes 25% cuts to the space agency's overall spending. In April, Isaacman criticized reports that science funding could be cut by nearly 50%, saying it "does not appear to be an optimal outcome." After Trump's weekend post, Isaacman -- who was nominated last December -- thanked the president and the Senate "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," Isaacman wrote Saturday in a post on X. "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."
The Hill
a day ago
- Business
- The Hill
Trump grounds NASA nominee
The Big Story The White House withdrew its nomination of tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to lead NASA over the weekend, stirring confusion among some Republicans and space industry figures. © AP Photo/John Raoux, File The White House offered few details on the reasoning for pulling Issacman's nomination for NASA administrator. '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,' a White House spokesperson told The Hill. The Senate was slated to vote on his nomination in the coming days. He testified before the upper chamber in April as part of the confirmation process and advanced out of committee in a 19-9 vote. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said the decision was made after a 'thorough review of prior associations.' The New York Times reported the decision was reached after Trump was told Isaacman donated to prominent Democrats in the past. But The Times later reported Trump and his team were briefed about the donations during the presidential transition late last year before his nomination. Isaacman worked alongside tech billionaire Elon Musk at SpaceX to fund the company's first private spacewalk, and he was one of four astronauts aboard the Polaris Dawn flight this fall. He is also the founder and CEO of Shift4, a payment processing company. Republican Sen. Tim Sheehy (Mont.) quickly expressed his disappointment over the decision. 'Astronaut and successful businessman @RookIsaacman was a strong choice by President Trump to lead NASA. I was proud to introduce Jared at his hearing and strongly oppose efforts to derail his nomination,' Sheehy wrote in an X post on Saturday. Conservative provocateur Laura Loomer reported over the weekend 'deep state operatives' were attempting to prevent Isaacman from serving at the helm of NASA. 'Let me remind you who Jared Isaacman is. Yes, he has been a liberal in the past like @elonmusk, but as it relates to MERIT and his knowledge of Space, his credentials are unmatched,' Loomer said in her Saturday X post. 'There is reason to believe that Isaacman may be facing retaliation because of his friendship with @elonmusk,' she added. The decision was announced shortly after Musk's exit from the White House last week. Read more in a report at Welcome to The Hill's Technology newsletter, we're Miranda Nazzaro and Julia Shapero — tracking the latest moves from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads How policy will be impacting the tech sector now and in the future: Musk rips media over hypocrisy over Booker gesture Tech billionaire Elon Musk slammed the 'legacy media' over the weekend, alleging hypocrisy in how news outlets covered Sen. Cory Booker's (D-N.J.) recent arm gesture after he faced criticism for a similar gesture earlier this year. Booker, while speaking at the California Democratic Convention on Saturday, placed his hand on his heart before extending his arm toward the crowd. Videos of the moment quickly … Michael Cohen: Trump will 'go after Elon's money next' Michael Cohen, President Trump's former personal attorney, predicts he will 'go after' tech billionaire Elon Musk's money now that the Tesla CEO's time as a special government employee has finished. 'I said from the very start that this bromance was going to come to an end,' Cohen said on MSNBC. 'I'm going to go one step even further, again, and I'm going to say Trump will ultimately go after Elon's money next because … Musk denies using drugs after NYT report: 'Lying their a‑‑ off' Tech billionaire Elon Musk denied he is taking drugs over the weekend, claiming The New York Times was 'lying their a‑‑ off' in a report about his alleged drug use on the campaign trail last year. 'To be clear, I am NOT taking drugs! The New York Times was lying their a‑‑ off,' Musk wrote Saturday in a post on the social platform X. 'I tried *prescription* ketamine a few years ago and said so on … Musk talks about Trump administration in CBS interview — despite asking to avoid the subject Elon Musk offered his opinion on the Trump administration in an interview shortly after he departed from his role at the White House, despite initially saying he only wanted to talk about 'spaceships' rather than 'presidential policy.' In an interview with 'CBS Sunday Morning,' the former Trump adviser told CBS correspondent David Pogue that he only wanted to talk about 'spaceships' … {{if !contains( Report')} {/if}}{{if !contains( Report')} {/if}} The Refresh News we've flagged from the intersection of tech and other topics: Crypto Corner Mersinger takes reins at Blockchain Association © AP Welcome to Crypto Corner, a daily feature focused on digital currency and its outlook in Washington. Summer Mersinger, a former commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), kicked off her tenure as CEO of the Blockchain Association on Monday. She offered a unifying message for the industry in a series of posts on X, underscoring the importance of standing together to secure crytpo-friendly policies in Washington. 'We're at a critical juncture for crypto policy in the U.S.,' she wrote. 'There's a growing crypto caucus in Congress, we have an executive branch that sees the inherent benefits of digital assets, and our regulatory agencies have turned the page from antagonism to collaboration.' 'But we need to capture this moment and push pro-crypto policy across the finish line,' Mersinger continued. She takes the place of Kristin Smith, the longtime leader of the major crypto trade group who stepped down last month. 'Today marks a new chapter for this community and for Blockchain Association,' she added. 'One built on shared purpose, collective energy, and a clear direction. I'm ready to get to work — together.' Mersinger is among several CFTC commissioners to announce her departure in recent weeks. All four current commissioners have left or plan to leave in the coming weeks and months, clearing out of the agency at a crucial moment when it's expected to take on new responsibilities regulating the crypto market. The Trump administration and Republican lawmakers are pushing to pass legislation by August that would divide up digital asset market regulation between the CFTC and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). House lawmakers unveiled new bipartisan market structure legislation last week, known as the CLARITY Act, which they are set to consider at a hearing Wednesday. In Other News Branch out with other reads on The Hill: Musk says he doesn't want to 'take responsibility' for all Trump actions Tech billionaire Elon Musk, whose time as a special government employee came to an end on Friday, said in a Sunday interview that he doesn't want to 'take responsibility' for all actions of the Trump administration. In an interview on CBS News's 'Sunday Morning,' Musk said he disagrees with some moves President Trump has made, though he hesitated to discuss them in more detail, saying that doing so might create … What Others are Reading Two key stories on The Hill right now: Kavanaugh signals Supreme Court will soon decide constitutionality of banning AR-15s The Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up a case that involves whether possessing AR-15s is protected by the Second Amendment, but the court's … Read more 'Donors' vs 'takers': SALT battle stirs debate between blue and red states President Trump's domestic agenda bill is spurring a debate over whether blue states are subsidizing red states. After a successful pressure campaign … Read more What Others are Reading Opinions related to tech submitted to The Hill: You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here
