Trump’s Transportation Department Launches New SPACE Task Force to Unleash Commercial Space Innovation
The Trump Administration is moving to make space launches faster, more cost-effective, and keep the U.S. ahead
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today launched the Space Policy Administration, Coordination, and Execution (SPACE) Task Force–an intradepartmental body that will coordinate space policy activities on behalf of the Department. The task force will implement the President’s National Space Transportation Policy that include recommendations to expand launch infrastructure, streamline regulation, better integrate the airspace, and coordinate space policy on behalf of USDOT.
“Under President Trump, the U.S. is leading in commercial space innovation. America had 217 of the 329 commercial space launches worldwide in 2025 and we expect that number to soar to 10,000 FAA-licensed launches and reentries yearly by 2035. This SPACE Task Force is going to ensure this next era of space transportation is led by America–not China,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.
The Department’s SPACE Task Force will lead and coordinate a unified commercial space transportation strategy. It will focus on strengthening national security, bolstering our economic competitiveness, and unleashing innovation to secure America’s space dominance in the race against China.
“Keeping America’s edge in commercial space is key to advancing the economic and national security of the United States, and thanks to President Trump, USDOT is empowered like never before to advance this national priority,” said Under Secretary Ryan McCormack. “The SPACE Task Force will develop and coordinate space policy to achieve the aims of the National Space Transportation Policy and strengthen American leadership in this vital sector.”
Additional Information:
The SPACE Task Force–chaired by Under Secretary McCormack–brings together experts from the several DOT components, including: the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of General Counsel, Office of Research and Technology, Office of Transportation Policy, Office of Multimodal Freight Policy, and Office of Aviation and International Affairs.
In addition to announcing an initiative to develop new space launch routes, Secretary Duffy recently shared three key efforts to supercharge space port construction:
- An investment into commercial space facility roadways,
- Issuing a call to the public for ideas on where the U.S. should build new spaceports,
- And launching an initiative to streamline commercial space licensing, making it faster and easier for innovators to secure approvals to launch rockets, reenter spacecraft, and operate launch and reentry sites
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