Amending Executive Order 13803Reviving the National Space Council
Signed: February 13, 2020
Published: February 20, 2020
Document Number: 2020-03556
đSummary
This executive order updates the membership list of the National Space Council, keeping the Vice President as chair and specifying which Cabinet officials and senior White House and national security leaders are included, while allowing the chair to add other agency heads as needed. It affects the National Space Council and the federal departments and offices whose leaders serve on it, including agencies involved in defense, intelligence, transportation, commerce, energy, homeland security, NASA, and science policy. It also removes a requirement in the earlier order for quarterly reporting (by revoking the first sentence of the section that required it). The order emphasizes that agencies keep their existing legal authorities, actions must follow existing law and available funding, and it does not create enforceable rights for the public.
đźBusiness Impact
This order mainly affects space and aerospace businessesâcommercial launch providers, satellite operators, space manufacturing/supply-chain firms, and contractors serving DoD, NASA, Commerce, and Transportationâbecause it reshapes who sits at the top interagency table that coordinates national space policy and budgets. While it doesnât impose new direct compliance obligations, it can shift regulatory and procurement priorities (e.g., launch licensing/FAA, remote sensing/Commerce, spectrum and security coordination) and creates opportunities to influence policy through the National Space Councilâs expanded membership and agency alignment. Businesses should immediately map which Council member agencies regulate or buy from them, monitor upcoming Council-driven policy directives and budget signals, and proactively engage via industry associations/agency comment processes to position for contracting, partnerships, and any forthcoming rulemakings.
Full Text
Executive Order 13906 of February 13, 2020
Amending Executive Order 13803—Reviving the National Space Council
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1 . Membership of the Council. Section 2(b) of Executive Order 13803 of June 30, 2017 (Reviving the National Space Council) is hereby amended to read as follows:
“(b) The Council shall be composed of the following members:
(i) The Vice President, who shall be Chair of the Council;
(ii) The Secretary of State;
(iii) The Secretary of Defense;
(iv) The Secretary of Commerce;
(v) The Secretary of Transportation;
(vi) The Secretary of Energy;
(vii) The Secretary of Homeland Security;
(viii) The Director of National Intelligence;
(ix) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget;
(x) The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs;
(xi) The Assistant to the President for Economic Policy;
(xii) The Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy;
(xiii) The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
(xiv) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
(xv) The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and
(xvi) The heads of other executive departments and agencies (agencies) and other senior officials within the Executive Office of the President, as determined by the Chair.”
Sec. 2 . Revocation of Quarterly Reporting Requirement. The first sentence of section 4(c) of Executive Order 13803 is hereby revoked.
Sec. 3 . General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
( printed page 10032)(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
February 13, 2020.