NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman speaks at an agency town hall at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington, Friday, Dec. 19, a day after being sworn in as the agency’s 15th administrator. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman outlined a vision for the agency focused on fostering commercial partnerships, establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon, and transitioning toward a commercially self-sustaining space economy.
- His address contained detailed plans to streamline agency operations, reduce “bureaucratic drag” and speed up decision-making to meet aggressive White House deadlines in line with a recent executive order.
- Isaacman explained that his “force multiplier for science” strategy encompasses the entire scientific program, including astrophysics and Earth observations, with the goal of leveraging industry partnerships for more efficient data gathering and integrating advanced technologies such as AI for future deep space missions.
- The Administrator emphasized a firm stance on contractor accountability and underlined the urgency of accelerating lunar missions such as Artemis to achieve a sustained presence on the Moon, seeing this as an important step toward future Mars exploration.
Newly appointed NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman spoke to agency employees at an agencywide town hall on Friday, December 19. In his first public address since being sworn in, the billionaire and private astronaut described a future for NASA defined by commercial partnerships and a permanent presence on the Moon.
Isaacman won a 67-30 Senate confirmation vote earlier this week. In his opening remarks, he said his views should be clear after two confirmation hearings, several podcast appearances and the leak of a 62-page document known as “Project Athena.” His address laid out a roadmap for the agency that closely follows the timelines set by President Donald Trump’s recent executive order.
“America will lead the way in the peaceful exploration of space,” Isaacman said. “We will remain intensely focused on the mission and realizing our near-term objectives of returning American astronauts to the Moon and establishing a permanent presence on the lunar surface to unlock scientific, economic and national security potential.”
a commercial space economy
Isaacman wants to move NASA away from a “taxpayer-dependent model.” He envisions a new space economy where commercial activities eventually generate enough value to pay the costs of operating in space. For more than 50 years, the space economy has depended on governments as primary customers for launches and observations. Trump’s Dec. 18 executive order aims to change that by attracting $50 billion in private investment by 2028. As part of this transition, the administration plans to replace the International Space Station with private stations after the 2030 plan. Isaacman said the goal is to find breakthroughs in areas such as pharmaceuticals and biotech that can generate value that exceeds operating costs, adding, “NASA will become a force multiplier for science.”
While Isaacman did not mention “Project Athena” by name during the town hall, his speech echoed many of its foundational themes. He previously described the proposal – which advocates a commercial-first strategy and the possible elimination of legacy programs such as the Space Launch System – as a “living draft” after it was revealed. The document has faced criticism and skepticism within the space community; A former NASA official called the proposal “bizarre and reckless” in a report politico,
On Friday, Isaacman addressed the need to reduce “bureaucratic drag” and improve the flow of information to meet the White House’s aggressive deadlines. He said he plans to “flatten the organizational structure to improve information flow and accelerate sound decision making, and to deliver responsibility to talent that is more than capable of getting the job done.” These changes are intended to correct long-standing problems with schedule delays and cost overruns within the agency.
NASA future of science
The administration’s emphasis on commercial feasibility and exploration has raised concerns about the future of NASA science. These concerns were previously aired in 2025 by former interim chief Sean Duffy, who suggested that Earth science programs could be deprioritised, and the President’s initial budget request indicated possible funding changes. Against this backdrop of a “business-first” approach and fiscal uncertainty, Goddard researcher Rita Sambruna asked Isaacman to clarify what he meant by being a “force multiplier for science.” He specifically asked whether their definition included traditional astrophysics and Earth observations, even if those programs did not directly support the “Moon to Mars” objective.
Isaacman replied that his vision included the entire science program and its technology initiatives. He argued that the agency’s role is to solve “mysteries in the air and space”, answering the questions children ask when they look at the stars. He suggested that by partnering with industry to collect data more cheaply, NASA could “freeze time for science” and maximize the value of its budget without sacrificing its broader research goals.
further quiz
Beyond the scientific mission, task force members raised questions about daily operations, jobs, and the use of emerging technologies. One employee asked about the possible integration of AI and holographic technology, citing a recent presentation of state-of-the-art holographic AI in the Mission Control Center. Isaacman said that while it only took him a few hours to do the job, such technology “seems like the right direction.” He suggested that onboard AI decision making would be important for deep space missions to Mars to account for transmission delays, calling this possibility “a fun thing to imagine at some point in the near future.”
The Administrator also addressed concerns regarding contractor accountability. When asked about delayed projects due to poor contractor performance and reports from the Office of the Inspector General that NASA had limited ability to encourage improvements, Isaacman took a firm stance. He said commercial and international partners should be held to the same standards as the agency. “They work for us, not the other way around,” Isaacman said, promising that NASA would be a “demanding” partner, ensuring that partners’ promises are followed through promptly and on budget.
Regarding the current hiring freeze, Isaacman said he is still reviewing the details, but expects NASA will need to hire more people to meet its goals. On the topic of remote work, he said he prefers to have teams in the same room to solve difficult engineering problems, though he acknowledged that some exceptions will remain.
on the moon
Isaacman stressed the urgency of the Artemis 2 mission, which is expected to launch early next year. The agency is currently working towards a 2028 deadline to land humans on the Moon. Isaacman said he wanted to extend the flight schedule as much as physics and safety would allow. The new executive order also calls for rapid investment in technologies such as nuclear propulsion and lunar surface reactors by 2030. Isaacman described these as necessary steps for the eventual mission to Mars.
Isaacman concluded his opening remarks by saying that this era of Moon missions is different from the 1960s. He said the goal now is a sustained presence rather than a brief visit. He thanked the Senate and the astronautics community for their support as the agency moves toward its next milestone.
“I don’t think there are many NASA employees standing next to you who served during the Apollo era. They have retired. In many cases, they have gone on, and left behind their extraordinary achievements for us to celebrate. But now, you will be the one in the room when we return. You will be part of the next chapter of this history. And this time, when we make a great comeback, we will be there,” Isaacman said.
