Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry

Key claim: Executive Order 14335, signed by President Trump on August 13, 2025, establishes U.S. policy to increase commercial space launch cadence and novel activities by 2030 through streamlined licensing, permitting, and environmental reviews. It directs the Departments of Transportation and Commerce, along with other agencies, to reevaluate FAA Part 450 regulations, expedite spaceport infrastructure approvals, propose a process for authorizing novel space missions under the Outer Space Treaty, and elevate commercial space offices within agencies. The order seeks to reduce regulatory barriers while remaining consistent with applicable law and safety requirements.

Abstract

Presidential Documents 40219 Federal Register Vol. 90, No. 158 Tuesday, August 19, 2025 Title 3— The President Executive Order 14335 of August 13, 2025 Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose. In 1969, the United States landed the first humans on the Moon. In the years since, premier space companies from around the world have been drawn to launch rockets and satellites from the United States, incentivized by its infrastructure and support for commercial space activities. Americans are more prosperous because of the space research and development occurring here. It is imperative that we build on the far-reaching actions taken by my Administration during my first term to ensure that new space-based indus- tries, space exploration capabilities, and cutting-edge defense systems are pioneered in America rather than by our adversaries. Ensuring that United States operators can efficiently launch, conduct missions in space, and reenter United States airspace is critical to economic growth, national security, and accomplishing Federal space exploration objectives. Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to enhance American greatness in space by enabling a competitive launch marketplace and substan- tially increasing commercial space launch cadence and novel space activities by 2030. To accomplish this, the Federal Government will streamline com- mercial license and permit approvals for United States-based operators. Sec. 3. Reforming Regulatory Barriers to Commercial Launch and Reentry. (a) The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, shall, consistent with applicable law, use all available authorities to eliminate or expedite the Department of Transportation’s environmental reviews for, and other obstacles to the grant- ing of, launch and reentry licenses and permits. Such measures shall include the exercise of authority by the Secretary of Transportation under 51 U.S.C. 50905(b)(2)© as applicable; determining which Department of Transpor- tation functions are not subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); and, as appropriate, establishing categorical exclusions under NEPA (or relying on existing categorical exclusions) for launch and reentry licenses and permits within certain parameters. (b) The Secretary of Tra

Why this matters

Executive Order 14335, signed by President Trump on August 13, 2025, establishes U.S. policy to increase commercial space launch cadence and novel activities by 2030 through streamlined licensing, permitting, and environmental reviews. It directs the Departments of Transportation and Commerce, along with other agencies, to reevaluate FAA Part 450 regulations, expedite spaceport infrastructure approvals, propose a process for authorizing novel space missions under the Outer Space Treaty, and elevate commercial space offices within agencies. The order seeks to reduce regulatory barriers while remaining consistent with applicable law and safety requirements.

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