Isaacman Tells Senators the Moon Is NASA’s Clear Priority in Second Hearing

Jared Isaacman, President Donald Trump’s renominated choice to lead NASA, told the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday that returning astronauts to the Moon is now the agency’s clear priority, ahead of Mars, according to CNN. The hearing was his second, eight months after the first. Trump withdrew the nomination in May, days before a confirmation vote and soon after his falling out with Elon Musk, and renominated him last month, The Associated Press reported.

Committee chair Sen. Ted Cruz said the second appearance “feels a bit like Groundhog Day” and hopes Isaacman is confirmed by the end of the year. Cruz and ranking member Maria Cantwell both signaled support. “I supported your nomination the first time you came before the committee, and I hope to do so again,” Cantwell said, per CNN. Acting administrator Sean Duffy, the transportation secretary, sent a letter of support, and 36 NASA astronauts backed the nomination.

Isaacman urged quick action and “full-time leadership” for the agency, warning that falling behind could shift the global balance of power, the AP reported. Cruz said NASA “cannot take its eyes off the ball” on China’s lunar plans. NASA is targeting early next year for a flyaround of the Moon by four astronauts, with a landing on a later mission, and the goal is to beat China to the Moon by the end of the decade, according to the AP.

The lunar lander was a major topic. SpaceX holds the original crew-lander contract with Starship, which is still in flight testing, and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon prototype is due to launch early next year, the AP said. Duffy announced NASA would re-compete a $2.9 billion SpaceX lander contract, CNN reported. CNN reported that Isaacman said SpaceX and Blue Origin understand they are competing to be first.

Senators pressed him on the budget and on a leaked 62-page plan called “Project Athena.” Sen. Jerry Moran raised Trump’s budget proposal; Isaacman said, “We will absolutely maximize every dollar Congress affords to the agency,” according to CNN. Sen. Andy Kim said the document was “determinative” in suggesting cuts to thousands of civil servant positions. Isaacman said the document was “written seven months ago,” CNN reported.

His ties to SpaceX drew questions. Sen. Gary Peters noted that Isaacman recently donated about $2 million to a Trump-aligned super PAC, and CNN reported that financial disclosures show an ongoing SpaceX deal worth more than $50 million and over $5 million in capital gains from a SpaceX investment.

Isaacman, 42, founded the payment company Shift4, performed the first private spacewalk last year and financed two SpaceX flights. Transportation Secretary Duffy has led the agency since summer.