The White House suddenly withdrew Jared Ezakman’s candidacy for the position of NASA commander, just days before the scheduled – and already late – vote in the Senate. Azakman, a billionaire private astronaut and close associate, had been proposed for the post but was eventually removed from the list of candidates without official explanation.
“After a thorough review of previous relationships, I withdraw Jared Eizakman’s candidacy for NASA leadership,” Trump said in a post. “I will soon announce a new candidate, who will be in line with the mission and put America first in space.”
The removal of Ezakman surprised many in the space industry, which considered his support from Musk decisive. Azakman himself, in a post on the X platform, said “incredibly grateful to President Trump and those who supported me on this journey”, adding that he acquired “a deeper understanding of the complexity of governance and weight.”
What is behind the decision
From the role of the “special government official” in the White House. The presence of Musk within the presidential staff had caused tensions, with some Trump advisers expressing open discomfort.
According to a source cited by the Guardian, the founder of SpaceX appeared frustrated by the decision. In a post on X, he described Ezakman as “a rare example of a capable and well -meaning man”.
Although there has been no official announcement of the replacement, the names of the US Air Force, Steven Quaast, a well -known supporter of the creation of space power and a friend of Trump, is among the names heard.
The removal of Iszakman comes at a critical time for NASA, which is facing huge cuts in the context of the Trump government’s budget plan for 2026. The plan provides for the abolition of dozens of research programs and layoffs of thousands of employees.
