A 62-page policy document titled 'Athena' has leaked among Capitol Hill space lobbyists, outlining Jared Isaacman's vision for NASA if confirmed as administrator. The leak appears tied to efforts by interim administrator Sean Duffy to retain his position amid President Trump's reconsideration of Isaacman's nomination. Traditional aerospace contractors are using the document to oppose changes favoring commercial space.
In recent weeks, copies of the 'Athena' plan have circulated among space lobbyists in Washington, DC. The document summarizes actions private astronaut and billionaire Jared Isaacman would take as NASA administrator, focusing on achieving 'the near impossible' in human space exploration, igniting the space economy, and enhancing science efforts.
Isaacman's nomination occurred early in 2025 but was withdrawn in late May for political reasons. President Trump then appointed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy as interim NASA administrator in early July. In August, Isaacman's team provided Duffy and his chief of staff, Pete Meachum, with a pared-down 62-page version of the original comprehensive plan devised earlier that year. Sources indicate this was the only distribution, suggesting the leak originated from Duffy's circle several weeks ago.
The plan has since spread to policy officials and reporters. Two sources say Duffy shared it with traditional space contractors to garner support for his continued leadership, possibly through the Artemis II mission next year. The Alabama delegation, representing Marshall Space Flight Center and supportive of the Space Launch System rocket, has favored Duffy after reviewing it, viewing Isaacman's re-nomination as a 'giveaway' to SpaceX.
Critics' talking points cherry-pick elements, such as evaluating the Pleiades supercomputer at Ames Research Center—built in 2008 and upgraded in 2016, ranking 218th globally—as a call to shut down the facility. However, the document does not propose ending the astronaut program or closing Glenn Research Center. Instead, it calls for reviewing NASA's recent spending and leaning into the commercial space industry to stretch public funds and maintain competitive edges.
Duffy has built industry ties, portraying Isaacman as a disruptor aligned with Elon Musk and SpaceX. Yet, the full plan shows no pro-SpaceX bias, expressing equal enthusiasm for Blue Origin. It aligns with Trump administration priorities, advocating transitions from cost-plus contracts for the Space Launch System and Orion, and repurposing Gateway elements for a nuclear-powered tug—contrasting Duffy's expressed willingness to maintain the status quo.