Billionaire astronaut Jared Isaacman told senators on Wednesday that NASA needs permanent leadership now, warning that any delay in returning Americans to the moon risks letting China seize the lead in space.
“This is not the time for delay but a time for action because if we fall behind — if we make a mistake — we may never catch up, and the consequences could shift the balance of power here on Earth,” Isaacman said during a second confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, the Associated Press reported.
The 42-year-old founder of payment-processing firm Shift4, who performed the first private spacewalk last year, was renominated by President Donald Trump last month to become NASA’s 15th administrator. Trump withdrew his nomination in May after a public rift with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX) called the repeat appearance “a bit like Groundhog Day” and said he hopes the full Senate confirms Isaacman before year’s end, in time for the scheduled February launch of Artemis II — the first crewed flight around the moon in more than 50 years.
Ranking member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) said she supported Isaacman the first time and intends to again.
“I hope that today’s hearing will show that there is bipartisan agreement, strong bipartisan agreement, that we must redouble our efforts to get American astronauts back to the surface of the moon as soon as possible,” Cantwell said, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
Isaacman stressed that beating China to a sustained lunar presence is the agency’s top priority.
“NASA cannot take its eyes off the ball,” said Cruz.
Lawmakers pressed Isaacman on a leaked 62-page draft plan known as “Project Athena” that proposed major restructuring, including potential job cuts and shifts in science programs. Isaacman described it as an evolving personal document written months ago.
“I do stand behind everything in the document, even though it was written seven months ago. I think it was all directionally correct,” he said, according to CNN.
He also backed recent competition for the Artemis lunar lander contract and said he has no intention of favoring SpaceX, despite having paid the company for two private orbital missions.
“We will absolutely maximize every dollar Congress affords to the agency,” Isaacman told Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), who sought assurances against deep cuts outlined in an earlier Trump budget proposal that Congress has rejected, CNN reported.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has served as acting NASA administrator since the summer. Thirty-six NASA astronauts, including some of Isaacman’s former crewmates, have endorsed his nomination.
Senators have until Thursday to submit written questions, with Isaacman required to respond by Sunday. Cruz said he expects a committee vote soon after.
