Order directs agencies to pursue U.S. space and security priorities

The President directs agencies to pursue priorities for lunar exploration, missile defense, space security, commercial space activity, space nuclear power, and space infrastructure. The priorities cover NASA, the Departments of Commerce and State, national security agencies, commercial space activities, international civil space cooperation, and U.S. space operations. The order describes goals such as returning Americans to the Moon by 2028, establishing initial lunar outpost elements by 2030, and preparing a lunar reactor for launch by 2030. The Assistant to the President for Science and Technology must issue nuclear-power guidance within 60 days and propose transportation-policy revisions within 120 days. Agencies must prepare plans and reviews within 90 days, including plans for exploration and reports on major programs that are significantly late, over cost, failing key performance measures, or misaligned with the order. Implementation must follow existing legal authority and available appropriations. The specified guidance is due within 60 days, the transportation-policy proposal within 120 days, and the combined plans and reviews within 90 days after December 18, 2025.

Within 180 days, Commerce and NASA must reform space acquisition processes, while national security officials must implement space security and architecture plans. The acquisition reforms cover Commerce and NASA programs, including their federal and contract workforces; the security plans cover threats from very low-Earth orbit through cislunar space and cooperation with allies and partners. The agencies must use existing authorities and generally prefer commercial solutions, flexible government agreements, and customary commercial terms where appropriate. The security strategy must address potential adversary placement of nuclear weapons in space. The order directs review of support roles and reduction of unnecessary tasks and duplication, but does not itself authorize new funding or override agency authority. Implementation remains subject to applicable law and available appropriations. The acquisition reforms, U.S. space security strategy, national security space architecture plan, and allied-contribution plan are due within 180 days after December 18, 2025.

The President revokes Executive Order 14056 and replaces several references to services being free of direct user fees with language allowing commercial and other relevant use. The revocation applies to Executive Order 14056, and the wording changes apply to specified subsections of Space Policy Directive 3 on national space traffic management. The revised wording does not itself set a specific fee or require that a fee be charged. The order says it controls over inconsistent prior executive orders, memoranda, or directives, subject to existing legal authority. The revocation and directive revisions take effect under the order signed on December 18, 2025.