The order, titled “Enabling competition in the commercial space industry”, was signed at the White House on Wednesday, with US Secretary Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) administrator Bryan Bedford in attendance.
Secretary Duffy said the initiative would help the United States “unlock the final frontier” by cutting red tape, streamlining spaceport construction approvals, and making launch licences easier to obtain at scale.
“Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, we will enable American space competitiveness and superiority for decades to come,” Secretary Duffy said. “I look forward to leveraging my dual role at DOT and NASA to make this dream a reality.”
The executive order is designed to create a competitive launch marketplace, substantially increase commercial launch rates, and enable novel activities such as in-space manufacturing and orbital refuelling by 2030.
Bedford said the reforms would help ensure the US remains the global leader in space transportation and innovation.
“This order safely removes regulatory barriers so that US companies can dominate commercial space activities,” he said.
Key measures include:
- Faster approvals for commercial launch and re-entry licences including expedited environmental reviews.
- Reduced barriers to spaceport construction, with duplicate review processes eliminated.
- Support for emerging space activities through a streamlined authorisation framework.
- New senior government positions to advise on innovation and deregulation in commercial space operations.
- Elevated roles for the FAA’s commercial space division and the US Office of Space Commerce.
The reforms aim to ensure the United States maintains its competitive edge in the global space economy, with a focus on rapid innovation, expanded infrastructure and increased launch capacity.