The Fight for NASA Administrator Is Getting Dirty

There’s a new twist in the NASA leadership saga. A confidential document outlining Jared Isaacman’s radical vision for the agency recently came to light, and it’s causing quite a stir within the aerospace community.

The 62-page document, titled “Athena,†is a shortened version of the full manifesto Isaacman and his advisors wrote after President Trump nominated him for the role of NASA Administrator at the start of his term, sources tell Ars Technica. Reviewed by both Ars and Politico, it reportedly details major changes that have ruffled the feathers of multiple people tied to NASA.

Isaacman told Politico that the goal of the plan is to “reorganize and reenergize NASA, focus the agency on American leadership in space, unlock the orbital economy, and accelerate world-changing discoveries.â€

But perhaps even more scandalous than the document’s contents is the nature of its release. Sources told Ars that the leak appears to be part of Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy’s efforts to sabotage Isaacman’s potential re-nomination and improve his chances of keeping his position. This claim has not been independently confirmed.

Gizmodo reached out to Duffy and Isaacman for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

A NASA power grab?

The question of who will be the next NASA administrator is currently at the center of a political tug-of-war. Though Isaacman has re-emerged as the front-runner since losing his original nomination, reports suggest Duffy wants to secure the role for himself.

Trump pulled Isaacman’s nomination in May, citing concerns over the billionaire’s past Democratic campaign donations and his ties to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. In July, the president installed Transportation Secretary Duffy as acting NASA administrator.

Isaacman and his team then edited the Athena papers down to 62 pages and gave them to Duffy and his chief of staff, Pete Meachum, in August, Ars reports. Sources told Ars these were the only copies distributed, and those sources suggested to Ars that the leak originated in Duffy’s office.

Two sources told Ars that Duffy shared the document with legacy space contractors to gain support for his permanent installation as NASA administrator. Gizmodo has not independently verified this claim. According to CNN‘s reporting, Duffy has said privately that he would like to hold the space chief title permanently and potentially fold NASA into the Department of Transportation.

NASA Press Secretary Bethany Stevens has denied claims that Duffy is seeking a permanent leadership position at the agency, previously telling Gizmodo, “he’s never said he wants to keep the job himself.â€

If Duffy is interested in keeping his NASA job, Isaacman is his biggest competition. Despite losing his original nomination, Isaacman has gained support from several lawmakers and recently met with Trump to discuss the possibility of another nomination, a source told CNBC.

A major overhaul

The overarching goal of Issacman’s plan is to operate NASA more like a business, Politico reports. Increasing NASA’s reliance on the commercial space industry is central to this goal.

This would have a particularly significant impact on NASA’s approach to science. Isaacman proposes buying data from commercial companies instead of launching the agency’s own satellites, as well as taking “NASA out of the taxpayer funded climate science business and [leaving] it for academia to determine,†according to Politico.

Isaacman also reportedly recommends canceling the Gateway lunar space station and the Space Launch System (SLS)—both part of the current architecture for NASA’s Artemis program—after two more missions. This is in line with the changes Trump sought in his fiscal year 2026 budget request for NASA.

The document also details extensive reorganization and cost-saving efforts, including an internal investigation into the “relevance and ongoing necessity†of every agency center, Politico reports. It calls for consolidating mission control functions into Johnson Space Center in Texas and a case study into the purpose of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

These are just some of the sweeping changes outlined in the Athena document that Isaacman could pursue as NASA administrator. While some sources told Ars and Politico that they agree the agency needs an overhaul, others argue that some of Isaacman’s proposals fundamentally misunderstand the nature of scientific funding and government operations.

It remains to be seen whether the newly realized Athena document will impact Isaacman’s chances. On one hand, the proposals it reportedly outlines would threaten legacy space contractors and have elicited criticism from multiple people with ties to NASA. On the other hand, elements of Isaacman’s plans align with Trump’s budget request, which could strengthen his growing favor with the president.