Trump’s Executive Order: Commercial Space Stations, Nuclear Reactors on the Moon, and More

On 18 December 2025, as an early Christmas gift for the space industry, President Trump executed Executive Order titled Ensuring American Superiority in Space, ordering several notable changes.

Issued one day after the reconfirmation of entrepreneur and commercial astronaut Jared Isaacman as the 15^th NASA Administrator, this Order reflects the Administration’s intent to position the commercial industry as the central pillar of American space dominance.

Reaffirmation of Artemis and Moon landing

The Order reaffirms US commitment to returning astronauts to the Moon through the Artemis program, with lunar economic development serving as a platform for sustained presence, infrastructure development, and economic activity.

Acquisition Reform and Market Entry

A core feature of the Order is reforming federal acquisition processes to lower barriers for new market entrants. Agencies are instructed to modernize procurement practices to prioritize speed, competition, and non-traditional contractors.

Targeting USD 50 billion in investment by 2028

The Administration sets an objective of attracting at least USD 50 billion in private investment into the US commercial space sector by 2028. This capital has been positioned to bolster the commercial industry in the rapid development of novel dual-use technologies.

Increasing launch cadence

The Order calls for increased launch frequency across civil, commercial, and national security missions. Launch licensing, range access, and infrastructure capacity are treated as immediate constraints requiring reform. For launch providers and spaceports, the directive places operational scalability squarely on the national agenda.

Commercial Space Stations and alternatives to the ISS

Agencies are directed to accelerate the development of commercial alternatives to the International Space Station by 2030, whilst privately operated space stations are explicitly encouraged. This encouragement for commercial space stations establishes a policy runway for long-term private human spaceflight operations and should serve as a prolific motivator for commercial operators to commence development; Vast, Max Space and Axiom have continued to push this forward.

Deployment of nuclear reactors in space by 2030

The Order authorizes accelerated development of nuclear reactors on the Moon and in orbit by 2030. Nuclear power is framed as essential for sustained lunar operations and deep-space missions. This represents one of the strongest federal endorsements to date of nuclear systems as enabling infrastructure for space activity

Cancellation of the National Space Council

The Order revokes Executive Order 14056 of December 1, 2021, removing the legal foundation of the National Space Council. As a result, the Council ceases to function as an active presidential advisory body unless reconstituted by future executive action. This reflects a broader shift away from centralized policy coordination toward direct executive and agency execution.

NASA’s assumption of publication costs

Unusually, the Order directs NASA to bear the cost of its publication. This provision is rarely seen in modern executive actions and underscores NASA’s central role in implementing the Administration’s space agenda. Symbolically and practically, NASA is positioned as an executing authority rather than an intermediary.

Takeaway

The Order’s central premise is that American space superiority will be achieved through commercial execution. This shift from government as the primary operator materially expands opportunities for launch providers, satellite manufacturers, spaceport operators, in-space infrastructure developers, and investors prepared to scale alongside federal objections.

Commercial actors should treat the Order as a call to align early. Companies should map their capabilities against Artemis support, lunar infrastructure, missile defense enablers, commercial LEO destinations, and nuclear power deployment, and position themselves for accelerated procurement cycles. At the same time, operators should prepare for regulatory movement by reassessing export control exposure, licensing pathways, and cross-border operations in anticipation of streamlined frameworks. Finally, the Order rewards speed. Firms that engage agencies now, structure offerings to meet compressed timelines, and invest in compliance readiness will be best positioned to capture high-value contracts.

Author Contact

Abdulla Abuwasel

Deputy Managing Partner

awasel@waselandwasel.com

Abdulla specializes in international arbitration across multiple industries and jurisdictions, representing high-net-worth investors, appearing before arbitral tribunals, lobbying U.S. Congress, and is one of the few expert consultants in the space industry.