WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing to let the agency waive requirements under 13 federal laws for certain commercial space licenses and permits, a regulatory shift intended to accelerate rocket launches, spacecraft reentries and launch-site approvals as U.S. space activity expands.
The proposed rule would allow the FAA to bypass some environmental and natural-resource requirements when the agency determines they are unnecessary for a particular licensing action.
The FAA said protections needed for public health and safety, property, national security or U.S. foreign policy would remain in place. The proposal is subject to a 30-day public comment period and has not been finalized.
Among the laws potentially covered are the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, portions of the Clean Water Act and the National Historic Preservation Act, according to the Transportation Department.
The initiative follows President Donald Trump’s executive order on competition in the commercial space industry and advances a congressional directive to streamline commercial space licensing, the department said.
The proposal comes as the FAA projects a sharp increase in licensed space activity. The agency authorized a record 204 commercial space operations in fiscal 2025 and expects annual operations to rise from 214 this year to 507 by 2036.
Its forecast calls for as many as 4,288 commercial space operations over the next decade.
The FAA said applicants currently face overlapping reviews, environmental studies and duplicative information requests from multiple federal agencies, increasing costs and delaying near-term missions.
“Commercial space activity is surging, and we must do everything safely possible to support this vital sector,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated. “We will not keep pace with this rapid growth unless we streamline, modernize, and strengthen our regulatory approach.”
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy framed the proposal as part of an effort to reduce costs and improve the competitive position of the U.S. commercial space industry.
“America won the first Space Race, and we can do it again — but only if we get government red tape out of the way,” Duffy stated.
The proposed rule also cites a unanimous 2025 Supreme Court decision criticizing how the National Environmental Policy Act has been used to delay infrastructure and construction projects.
The FAA said it will review public comments before deciding whether to issue a final rule.
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