The White House has issued a highly anticipated Executive Order aimed at improving the competitiveness of the U.S. commercial space industry. The Order, titled “Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry,” was issued on August 13, 2025 and directs multiple federal agencies to overhaul regulatory requirements in four key areas: (1) commercial launch and reentry licensing, (2) spaceport infrastructure, (3) novel space authorizations, and (4) leadership and accountability. A high-level overview of the EO’s provisions in each of these areas is below.

Commercial Launch and Reentry Licensing: The EO orders a thorough overhaul of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) launch and reentry regulations, contained in 14 CFR Part 450, instructing the FAA to “reevaluate, amend or rescind” Part 450 requirements, including determining if certain types of launch vehicle should be subject to less stringent licensing requirements.

Spaceport Infrastructure: The EO directs the Department of Commerce (DOC), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Transportation (DOT), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to execute a Memorandum of Understanding within 180 days to align and streamline regulatory review processes for spaceport infrastructure. The EO also orders new categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for routine spaceport activities. 

Novel Space Authorizations: DOC must publish a streamlined authorization framework to issue authorizations to individual, cutting-edge missions (except for human spaceflight missions) that do not fit under existing regulatory regimes under Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 activities within 150 days.

Leadership and Accountability: DOT, FAA, and DOC must create senior deregulatory positions within 150 days, and the Office of Space Commerce within the DOC will be reorganized to be a part of the DOC’s Office of the Secretary.