In a major policy shift, U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order easing regulations for the private space industry, including scrapping certain environmental reviews in a move poised to benefit billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.
The order, aimed at “substantially” increasing US space launches by 2030, has been hailed by industry advocates but slammed by environmental groups as “reckless.”
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has championed ambitious space exploration goals, including sending humans to the Moon and Mars.
Both missions are expected to rely on Starship, the colossal next-generation rocket developed by Musk’s private aerospace company, SpaceX.
Starship’s path has been anything but smooth, with several high-profile test failures, including a fiery explosion during a routine trial in June.
Still, SpaceX remains the dominant force in the global launch market, racking up more than 130 launches last year — a figure likely to rise under the new deregulation.
“It is the policy of the United States to enhance American greatness in space by enabling a competitive launch marketplace and substantially increasing commercial space launch cadence,” the order declares.
The directive also instructs Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who is simultaneously serving as NASA administrator to “eliminate or expedite” the Department of Transportation’s environmental reviews for rocket launches.
Critics say the change gives private companies too much freedom at the expense of the environment.
The Center for Biological Diversity warned the policy “paves the way for the massive destruction of protected plants and animals.”
“This reckless order puts people and wildlife at risk from private companies launching giant rockets that often explode and wreak devastation on surrounding areas,” said Jared Margolis, a senior attorney at the group.
Musk, once a close Trump advisor before a public falling out last July, has long pushed for lighter regulation in the space sector, arguing it’s key to innovation and his dream of colonising Mars. SpaceX’s rapid “fail fast, learn fast” approach remains central to its development strategy.
In May, the Federal Aviation Administration approved an increase in annual Starship launches from five to 25, asserting the boost would not significantly harm the environment — a claim environmentalists continue to challenge.
