Perhaps no organization within the federal government captures the ambition and imagination of the American spirit more than NASA. From landing humans on the moon to navigating the terrain of Mars, some of our nation's most iconic moments over the past 75 years have come about because of our achievements in space.
However, as adversaries look to weaponize outer space, with China moving toward building a moon base and Russia using space as a highway for supersonic cruise missiles, the US 's continued leadership is far from guaranteed.
Given the golden age of American innovation that President Trump is seeking to build, NASA needs a leader with the vision and experience necessary to think beyond old models and lead the agency to new heights. Its leader is Jared Isaacman.
Isaacman has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to aviation and space excellence through his work as a pilot, entrepreneur, and commercial astronaut. He is an inspirational leader who is uniquely qualified to guide our nation's space policy at a critical juncture in our nation's history. Additionally, President Trump's nomination to lead NASA represents a unique opportunity to combine the ingenuity of the private sector with the power of the federal government.
Today, the biggest advances in spaceflight often come from commercial markets, accelerating innovation, lowering costs, and fostering competition to the benefit of American taxpayers.
This is not something to be ashamed of. Rather, this is a natural evolution of our technological capabilities, slowly but surely growing beyond the walls of government following America's victory in the space race.
President Trump understands this better than anyone, and his nomination of Isaacman to lead NASA continues a welcome trend of hiring talented outsiders to disrupt the status quo in Washington. are.
When we served together in Congress, we shared a common passion for advancing and improving the nation's space policy while advocating for a more forward-looking, ambitious, and risk-taking approach. But the simple fact is that the pace of breakthrough discoveries is severely slowed by the weight of bloated bureaucracies. America struggles to manage an outdated infrastructure and has a hard time convincing tomorrow's innovators to lend their talents to today's national service.
Simply put, America's next big endeavors, from building a moon base to heading to Mars, mining critical minerals from asteroids, and manufacturing in zero gravity, will require continued innovation in the private sector. and investment will be required. But the ultimate promise of our future in space can only be achieved through a true partnership with a revitalized and rejuvenated NASA.
Fortunately, President Trump has nominated Jared Isaacman, who is exactly the kind of leader and trailblazer the agency needs at this time. His nomination will help a generation break through the bureaucratic morass that has too often blocked real progress, improve people's lives, and usher in a new era of American greatness that our country can once again be proud of. It provides a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
Please take it from us. It's time for NASA to take its next big leap forward. Jared Isaacman has the right people to lead the way.
Newt Gingrich is a former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Bob Walker is a former U.S. congressman from Pennsylvania.
