SPACEPOLICYONLINE.COM By Marcia Smith 8/13/2025
President Trump issued a broad Executive Order this afternoon addressing commercial space activities overseen by the Department of Transportation and the Department of Commerce. Among the provisions, DOT must reform regulations for commercial space launch and reentry and several agencies working together to advance development of spaceport infrastructure. DOC must propose a process for regulating novel space activities — commonly referred to as mission authorization — and the Secretary of Commerce must elevate the Office of Space Commerce to the Secretary’s office.
The Executive Order, “Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry,” is reminiscent of Trump’s Space Policy Directive-3 in his first administration. DOT and DOC reformed their commercial space regulations in response, but industry continues to argue they hamper business.
In an accompanying fact sheet, the White House said that it “is imperative that new space-based industries, space exploration capabilities, and cutting-edge defense systems are pioneered in America rather than by our adversaries.”
To that end, U.S. policy is to streamline commercial license and permit approvals for U.S.-based operators.
More:
https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/trump-issues-executive-order-on-commercial-space/
