In the audio above I discuss what Jared Isaacman’s nomination means for NASA.
NASA has closed three of its offices and initiated mass firings as part of a broader government downsizing effort led by the President and his adviser, Elon Musk. The affected offices include the Office of the Chief Scientist, the Office of Technology, Policy and Strategy, and the diversity branch of the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity (DEI).
So far, 23 employees have been laid off, with more cuts expected in the coming weeks. These closures leave NASA without independent scientific advice for its leadership at a time when it’s planning significant missions, like returning astronauts to the Moon and future plans for Mars. The layoffs align with a recent executive order aimed at scaling back DEI programs across multiple government agencies. In many cases, individuals are being labeled as "DEI hires" simply for being women or people of color— exacerbating inequities, particularly for communities historically excluded from power structures. It's tacit racism, plain and simple.
The cuts also threaten ongoing research efforts, such as NASA’s Open Science Initiative, which promotes transparency and international collaboration in scientific research. Projects like the Arctic Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE), which assesses climate change in sensitive ecosystems, now face disruptions—at a time when climate research is more urgent than ever.
Meanwhile, NASA remains in a leadership limbo. Jared Isaacman, the billionaire entrepreneur and nominee for NASA Administrator, has yet to be confirmed by the Senate, despite being expected to assume office on January 20, 2025. Nearly two months later, his confirmation remains stalled, leaving a power vacuum at the agency. What he thinks about everything happening in the U.S. over the past two months is unknown.
On March 10, 2025, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and other governors took decisive action to advocate for Isaacman's expedited confirmation. Their joint letter to the Senate Commerce Committee warned that "the absence of a confirmed NASA Administrator delays critical progress at a time when the United States can least afford it.". The intervention by state executives underscores growing unease over NASA’s uncertain future.
One thing is certain: NASA is standing at a crossroads, and its next steps will chart the course—not just for space exploration—but for humanity’s future, both above and below the atmosphere.
Notes:
Jared Isaacman nominated as next NASA administrator - NASASpaceFlight.com
Joint Governors Letter in support of Jared Isaacman NASA - 3.4.2025.pdf | Powered by Box
Gov. Lee Leads Coalition of Governors Urging Swift Confirmation of NASA Administrator
NASA Begins Mass Firings ahead of Trump Team’s Deadline | Scientific American
‘Further and faster’: Why Trump’s NASA pick is sending shock waves through the space community https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/06/science/nasa-chief-trump-pick-jared-isaacman/index.html
How much did the Apollo program cost? (n.d.). Retrieved from The Planetary Society: https://www.planetary.org/space-policy/cost-of-apollo
NASA's new chief changes mind, now believes in climate change -Phys.org
https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/jared-isaacman-nasa-administrator-trump-p8xsm83x9
‘Get those rocket ships going’: where will Trump’s space odyssey lead Nasa? | Space | The Guardian
Russia plans to spend almost a trillion rubles on space in 2025-2027 | Russian Space News
Putin rages as sanctions hobble Russia in the new space race
Share this post