“A Review of the Office of Space Commerce’s Mission Authorization Proposal”

The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a hearing on July 16, 2026, to review the Department of Commerce's Office of Space Commerce (OSC) mission authorization proposal, known as the Space Commerce Certification. The proposal aims to create a streamlined, voluntary certification process to authorize novel commercial space activities not currently covered by existing regulatory frameworks managed by the FAA, FCC, and Commerce. The OSC would serve as a centralized regulatory clearinghouse, coordinating interagency reviews to reduce duplicative processes and provide regulatory certainty to industry, thereby encouraging investment and innovation in the U.S. commercial space sector. Witness Taylor Jordan, Director of the OSC, testified about the proposal's intent to unify regulatory pathways, address gaps in oversight, and maintain national security, international obligations, and space safety. Committee members raised concerns about the OSC's limited FY2027 budget request of $11 million, which represents a significant cut despite added responsibilities, and questioned the voluntary nature of the certification and its enforcement mechanisms. Discussions also covered the OSC's ongoing space traffic management efforts, liability issues, interagency coordination, and the need for legislative authority to strengthen the OSC's role. The hearing emphasized balancing industry growth with public safety, national security, and environmental considerations in space operations.