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President Donald Trump’s administration is reportedly leaning toward dissolving the National Space Council, a move said to be influenced by lobbying from SpaceX, according to Reuters and sources familiar with the discussions.

The council, a cabinet-level panel that coordinates U.S. space policy, has faced criticism from SpaceX executives and Trump aides who allegedly view it as unnecessary.

Mat Dunn, SpaceX’s top lobbyist, and Trump’s advisors have privately called the council a “waste of time,” sources said. This has cast doubt on the council’s future, particularly as Vice President JD Vance would be required by law to chair it—a responsibility that some insiders suggest may lack appeal for him.

Signs of the Council’s Demise

Since Trump’s election victory, his team has reportedly shown little interest in engaging with the space council, which was chaired under the Biden administration by Kamala Harris. Unlike NASA and other space agencies, the council received no outreach from Trump’s transition team, according to one source.

Further signaling its potential fate, the council’s offices near the White House are said to be largely vacant, and its website displayed a “404 page not found” error as of Tuesday.

While no official decision has been announced, two sources indicate that its closure appears increasingly likely.

Eliminating the council would mark a significant shift in space policy coordination, giving early insight into SpaceX’s influence over Trump’s space agenda. Elon Musk, SpaceX’s CEO and a close Trump ally, has reportedly been a vocal critic of the council and has called for streamlining space governance.

SpaceX’s Growing Influence in Washington

Musk, who contributed $250 million to Trump’s successful bid for reelection, has solidified his proximity to the president. Together, they have championed bold plans for Mars exploration during Trump’s second term.

In December, Trump named Jared Isaacman, a long-time SpaceX customer and associate of Musk, as the head of NASA. The appointment followed Trump’s visit to SpaceX’s Texas mission control for the sixth test launch of its Mars-focused Starship rocket.

The potential axing of the council comes after private space companies, including SpaceX, clashed with the Biden administration over increased government oversight. A 2023 proposal by the council under Biden’s leadership called for stricter “mission authorization,” a plan that frustrated the commercial space industry.

A Shift in Space Policy

The National Space Council was reinstated during Trump’s first term in 2017, after being dormant since 1993. It played a key role in the creation of the U.S. Space Force and initiatives like returning humans to the moon.

If the council is dissolved, Trump’s team is expected to continue building on these first-term achievements while fulfilling his campaign promise to reduce federal bureaucracy—a task Musk’s government efficiency team (DOGE, headed by Musk) has been tasked to oversee.

Opinions about the council’s value have historically varied between administrations. Some view it as duplicative of other White House space-focused offices, while others see it as essential for swift action on space priorities.

Criticism and Support

Audrey Schaffer, former space policy chief on Biden’s National Security Council, defended the council in a recent op-ed. “Without a team dedicated to space policy, the sheer volume of issues White House staff must tackle on a daily basis quickly crowds out any space agenda,” she wrote, underscoring the importance of the council’s role in shaping U.S. space policy.

As Trump’s administration considers disbanding the council, the decision signals a pivot toward a more industry-driven approach to space exploration.

Whether this move simplifies governance or leaves a vacuum in policy coordination remains to be seen, but the influence of SpaceX and Musk on the administration’s direction is increasingly hard to ignore.

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