Reviving the National Space Council

Impact dates

1. Jun 30, 2018

   First annual report to President on space policy and strategy assessment and recommendations

2. Sep 28, 2017

   Quarterly reports to President on Council activities and recommendations

Key directives

• Revive National Space Council with Vice President as Chair
• Council shall meet at least annually
• Chair shall report to President quarterly on Council activities
• Agencies shall conform space-related activities to President's national space policy
• Establish Users' Advisory Group with non-Federal industry representatives
• Office of Administration to provide administrative support on reimbursable basis

Who is ordered

• Vice President · Executive Office of the President
• Secretary of State · Department of State
• Secretary of Defense · Department of Defense
• Secretary of Commerce · Department of Commerce
• Secretary of Transportation · Department of Transportation
• Secretary of Homeland Security · Department of Homeland Security
• Director of National Intelligence · Office of the Director of National Intelligence
• Director of the Office of Management and Budget · Office of Management and Budget
• Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs · Executive Office of the President
• Administrator of NASA · NASA
• Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy · Executive Office of the President
• Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism · Executive Office of the President
• Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff · Department of Defense
• Agency Heads · Various
• Office of Administration · Executive Office of the President
• Office of the Counsel to the President · Executive Office of the President

Timeline

Risks & tensions

• Coordination tension with NSC on national security space matters explicitly noted; requires joint policy development
• Council authority is advisory only; Sec. 5(d) preserves existing agency lines of authority, potentially limiting enforcement
• Funding constraint: 'subject to availability of appropriations' and 'within existing appropriations' may limit operational capacity
• Vague: 'to the extent permitted by law' appears repeatedly, creating uncertainty about information-sharing obligations