U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at reducing bureaucratic hurdles in the space sector.
According to the White House, the order authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to expedite or waive environmental reviews for launch and reentry licenses, aiming to strengthen the U.S. space industry. The move is part of a broader plan to increase space activities and launch frequency by 2030, reinforcing America’s leadership in space. Outdated and overly restrictive regulations are set to be eliminated.
The order also seeks to simplify commercial licensing and permitting processes. The Secretary of Commerce will coordinate with the Departments of Defense and Transportation as well as NASA to assess regulatory compliance for spaceport projects. The White House statement emphasized that current permitting procedures slow down innovation and place smaller companies at a disadvantage. The Space Commerce Office will now report directly to the Secretary of Commerce, elevating its institutional priority.
