SpaceX’s strong push appears to have convinced President Trump to stop using the National Space Council, according to Reuters. Elon Musk’s growing power over the administration’s space policy seems to be the reason behind this decision.
Trump’s 2017 reestablishment of the Space Council was meant to steer U.S. space policy and make sure NASA and other federal agencies work together. But SpaceX’s main Washington representative, Mat Dunn, and Trump’s team have called the council “a pointless meeting,” according to news reports. The council’s lack of involvement in transition planning and the shutdown of its website point to its likely end.
Musk’s push to eliminate the Space Council fits with his general opposition to federal rules governing space activities. The Space Council faced strong opposition from the commercial space industry, especially after it proposed a 2023 plan that would have required private space companies to get government licenses, giving the government more control over their missions. Musk’s public fights with the FAA show how he wants to keep SpaceX free from government rules that slow down their fast development work.

People who watch this development see it as proof that private space companies are taking over, with SpaceX at the head of the pack. NASA, which traditionally led U.S. space exploration, now depends more and more on SpaceX to launch their missions. NASA’s Space Launch System has had problems with delays, but SpaceX’s Starship has flown several times despite its uneven performance.
As Musk’s Starlink internet satellites grow quickly, getting rid of the Space Council might help SpaceX do what it wants without government interference. Musk’s growing control over SpaceX makes us wonder how private companies and government agencies will share power when shaping America’s space future. The Space Council’s uncertain future shows how much power Musk has over Trump’s space policy and his ability to influence government decisions.