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Trump’s Review Finds SpaceX Deals Indispensable

Agencies found that critical mission requirements outweigh savings targets, leaving a handful of contracts under further review.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk greets U.S. President Donald Trump as they attend the NCAA men's wrestling championships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., March 22, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
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Overview

  • Interagency review prompted by President Trump’s public threats affirmed that nearly all SpaceX contracts are essential to U.S. space and defense operations
  • Federal agencies used GSA-compiled scorecards to assess costs, performance and the feasibility of competitor alternatives but identified no viable replacements
  • Pentagon and NASA officials warned that canceling major agreements would disrupt national security launches and crewed missions to the International Space Station
  • SpaceX’s federal portfolio remains robust, highlighted by a $5.9 billion award for 28 national security flights and sole U.S. certification for Crew Dragon astronaut transport
  • Only a small subset of multibillion-dollar contracts faces continued scrutiny, underscoring limited executive options against SpaceX’s industry dominance