The Trump administration intends to exempt the private space sector from environmental restrictions to support rapid launches and competition with China.

The U.S. government, under the leadership of President Donald Trump, announced on Tuesday plans to exempt the private space sector from environmental restrictions, arguing that it is necessary to accelerate the pace of space launches and to support competition with China.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized that removing administrative barriers is essential to maintain an advantage in the space race. The proposal would allow companies to obtain the necessary permits more quickly, ignoring provisions of 13 federal laws that protect threatened species and ecosystems. This decision has sparked controversy, with Brett Hartl from the Center for Biological Diversity criticizing it as an "obscene gift" to the industry.

Companies like SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, are already under scrutiny due to the environmental impact of their activities. The proposed measures may undergo changes before coming into effect.