The agency’s administration is located at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC, and provides overall guidance and direction.[222] Except under exceptional circumstances, NASA civil service employees are required to be US citizens. NASA’s administrator is nominated by the US president subject to Senate approval[224] and serves at the president’s pleasure as a senior space science advisor.

Jared Isaacman is the administrator of NASA since December 2025. His first nomination was withdrawn by President Donald Trump on May 31, 2025. He was renominated on November 4, 2025, and confirmed by the Senate on December 17.