The aerospace community was caught off guard this week by President Trump’s withdrawal of tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman’s NASA nomination.

Announced days before the Senate’s likely confirmation of Isaacman, the withdrawal sparked a swirl of rumors and concerns, as budget cuts loom and NASA stretches into its sixth month without a leader.

Trump, in a social media post over the weekend, offered few details but said his decision was made after a “thorough review of prior associations.”

One space policy executive called the reasoning “complete bulls---.”

“That’s like the worst excuse in the world,” said the executive, who was granted anonymity to speak freely about the withdrawal.

Isaacman's nomination had already advanced through the Senate Commerce Committee in a 19-9 vote and was expected to hit the full floor this week. When reached for comment Wednesday, he told The Hill he is “grateful” for the support from the space community.

The White House also did not offer specifics, stirring further frustration. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt briefly addressed the decision in a briefing Tuesday, telling reporters Trump “wants to ensure all of his nominees are aligned fully with the America first mission of this administration.”

“I was frankly gobsmacked,” Mark Whittington, an author who studies space, politics and policy, told The Hill. “Jared Isaacman is well regarded by just about everybody.”

While Isaacman — a billionaire entrepreneur and commercial astronaut — was not originally considered a contender for the role, observers said the aerospace community was largely open to his new perspective at the agency.

“People who follow the space program think he would be perfect for NASA administrator, and I can see no reason why this is happening,” Whittington said.

Rumors quickly circulated over the weekend that the decision might have something to do with Isaacman’s ally, Elon Musk, who stepped down from his role leading Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) last week.

Two sources close to the White House suggested Isaacman’s ties to Musk may have also contributed to his removal as the pick to lead NASA.

Musk, the sources........

© The Hill