US President-elect Donald Trump has named Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur and space enthusiast, as his pick to lead NASA. Isaacman is the CEO of Shift4 Payments, a major payment processing company, and also heads the Polaris program, which organises private space missions using SpaceX’s advanced spacecraft.
Isaacman’s deep ties with Elon Musk and SpaceX make him a notable choice for the role. Over the years, he has championed private space exploration, including funding and participating in several missions designed to push the boundaries of human spaceflight. His leadership in the Polaris program involves using SpaceX vehicles to conduct missions that test new technologies and expand the reach of human space travel.
Trump announced Isaacman’s nomination on his Truth Social platform, praising him as a visionary leader who would “drive NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration.” Trump added that Isaacman’s expertise would help achieve groundbreaking advancements in space science and exploration.
If confirmed by the Senate, Isaacman will manage NASA’s $25 billion budget and oversee key projects, including the Artemis program—a major initiative to return astronauts to the moon. The Artemis missions, which were first championed by Trump during his presidency, rely heavily on SpaceX’s Starship, a next-generation spacecraft designed for deep-space exploration.