BREMEN, Germany — The Senate Commerce Committee is set to hold a second confirmation hearing next month for Jared Isaacman’s nomination to be NASA administrator. The committee announced on Nov. 18 that it will hold a hearing on Isaacman’s renomination on Dec. 3. Isaacman will appear alongside Steven Haines, nominated to be an assistant secretary of commerce.
“This is a critical moment for NASA as it works to deploy the historic funding secured in the One Big Beautiful Bill to beat China back to the moon and bolster U.S. leadership in space,” said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in a Nov. 18 social media post that included a photo of him with Isaacman. Cruz, chairman of the commerce committee, was referring to the nearly $10 billion included for NASA in the budget reconciliation bill enacted in July, primarily for exploration programs such as the Space Launch System and Gateway.
“I know [Isaacman] 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,” he added.
Isaacman first appeared before the committee April 9 for his original nomination. The committee advanced the nomination at the end of April on a 19-9 vote, but the White House withdrew it a month later, days before the Senate was scheduled to vote on confirmation. There had been hope in some circles that Isaacman could skip a second confirmation on the argument that his views on NASA issues have not changed since his first hearing in April. That could have allowed the nomination to advance to the full Senate in December. However, one Capitol Hill source said that was unlikely, citing major developments since the first hearing.
Those include the White House’s fiscal year 2026 NASA budget proposal released in May, just before Isaacman’s nomination was withdrawn, that sought nearly a 25% cut to the agency’s overall budget, with deeper reductions in science and space technology. The source also pointed to “Project Athena,” a report Isaacman developed that surfaced publicly in recent weeks. The report outlines Isaacman’s vision for NASA with a strong emphasis on commercial capabilities. Isaacman said earlier this month he stands behind the report.
Isaacman’s renomination continues to have significant support in the space community, including from groups opposed to the proposed NASA science cuts. “Isaacman is an outspoken proponent for space exploration and the role of NASA in driving the space research enterprise, and has publicly stated his interest in accelerating the pace of science missions,” the Save NASA Science coalition said in a Nov. 12 statement. The coalition, which includes The Planetary Society and other advocacy groups, offered “sincere congratulations” to Isaacman on the renomination.