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yesterday

Bezos Moves to Fill Government Space Contract Gap After Musk’s Rift with Trump

Bezos is leveraging direct presidential calls alongside White House meetings to press for expanded Blue Origin contracts

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Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in the Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol before the luncheon on the inauguration day of U.S. President Donald Trump's second Presidential term in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo
A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket lifts off on its inaugural launch at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., January 16, 2025. REUTERS/Joe Skipper/File Photo
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Overview

  • Elon Musk’s falling out with President Trump earlier this month ended his West Wing access and prompted Trump to threaten cuts to SpaceX contracts.
  • Jeff Bezos has spoken with Trump at least twice this month and sent Blue Origin executives to meet senior White House aides to advocate for more government awards.
  • The White House has opened a formal review of SpaceX’s NASA and Department of Defense contracts following the Musk–Trump split.
  • SpaceX leads current government deals with a $5.8 billion award for 28 missions, while Blue Origin holds $2.5 billion for seven flights.
  • Trump has set a goal for a crewed spaceflight during his term, a milestone Blue Origin has not yet demonstrated, adding urgency to Bezos’s lobbying efforts.