Senate committee advances NASA deputy administrator nominee

WASHINGTON — The Senate Commerce Committee voted March 12 to send the nomination of Matt Anderson as NASA deputy administrator to the full Senate.

The committee voted 23-5 to forward Anderson’s nomination for a final confirmation vote. A vote by the full Senate has not yet been scheduled.

The five senators who voted against Anderson were all Democrats: Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, John Hickenlooper of Colorado, and Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware.

None of those senators participated in a March 5 confirmation hearing for Anderson. Senators from both parties who attended the hearing appeared largely supportive of Anderson, offering no specific criticism of him or the agency.

Anderson, a retired U.S. Air Force officer, was first nominated to be NASA deputy administrator in May 2025, then renominated in January after the Senate did not take up the original nomination before the end of last year.

At his confirmation hearing, he pledged to support NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and his efforts to implement a national space policy that calls for a human return to the moon by 2028.

“If confirmed, I will reinforce the culture of safety, accountability and transparency that Administrator Isaacman has recently outlined to NASA as well as the American public,” he said.

Anderson also used the hearing to support a NASA authorization bill the Senate Commerce Committee advanced March 4 that would codify some of the changes Isaacman is making to the Artemis program, as well as extend the life of the International Space Station by two years, to 2032.

“I think what we’re looking at right now is a perfect alignment between the administration and this committee,” he said.

While the full Senate has yet to schedule a vote to confirm Anderson, committee chairman Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said at the confirmation hearing he expected Anderson to be on the job in time “to ensure a safe and successful launch for Artemis 2.” That mission is now expected to launch as soon as April 1.

The position of deputy administrator is one of four at NASA that requires Senate confirmation. The Senate confirmed Isaacman as administrator in December.

The White House has not nominated a new chief financial officer after Greg Autry, nominated to the post last March, said he would not seek renomination after the Senate failed to act on his nomination last year.

The White House has also not submitted a nomination for NASA inspector general. That position has been vacant since Paul Martin left the agency at the end of 2023.