Former NASA Leader Advocates for Fair Space Funding: Balancing Competitive Landscape
Ex-NASA chief turned ULA lobbyist pushes for legislation to limit SpaceX funding, aiming to strengthen the space industry's competitive landscape.
America's space exploration success depends on fair and balanced competition among companies, says former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. In a recent LinkedIn post, Bridenstine expressed his encouragement over the U.S. Congress considering legislation to prevent NASA from allocating more than 50% of its launch funding to any single provider.
Bridenstine, who now works as a lobbyist for the United Launch Alliance (ULA), commended the efforts of Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) for including this provision in the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025. The committee is scheduled to hold a markup hearing for the legislation on March 4th.
The proposed measure aims to foster a more competitive and innovative space industry, which Bridenstine believes is crucial for both civil and national security space missions. By limiting the funding concentration on any single provider, the legislation seeks to encourage American space companies to compete, innovate, and grow.
Source: Ars Technica
