White House says Trump will soon announce new nominee for NASA head

By Reuters May 31, 2025

The U.S. Department of Defense launches a sounding rocket from NASA's launch range at Wallops Flight Facility carrying hypersonic weapon experiments in Virginia

The NASA logo hangs in the Mission Operations Control Center at Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia, U.S., October 26, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

WASHINGTON, May 31 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will soon announce a new candidate to serve as administrator of NASA, the White House said on Saturday, but did not explain why initial nominee Jared Isaacman was no longer in the running.

Semafor, citing two people familiar with the matter, had earlier said the White House would pull Isaacman's candidacy.

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"It is essential that the next leader of NASA is in complete alignment with President Trump's America First agenda and a replacement will be announced directly by President Trump soon," said White House spokeswoman Liz Huston.

Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Jasper Ward, writing by David Ljunggren; Editing by Don Durfee