Nearly everyone opposes Trump’s plan to kill space traffic control program

A significant backlash is brewing against the Trump administration's proposal to dismantle the Office of Space Commerce, which oversees the nation’s first civilian-operated space traffic control initiative. Recently, seven influential trade organizations representing over 450 companies expressed their concerns through letters directed at congressional leaders, urging them to reject the administration's budget plan. The military's Space Operations Command, currently tasked with space traffic management, has signaled its commitment to advocating for a dedicated civilian agency to assume the responsibilities of the Space Force as an orbital traffic regulator. The administration's fiscal year 2026 budget request suggests drastic cuts to the Office of Space Commerce, reducing its funding from $65 million to a mere $10 million and eliminating resources for the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS). Established following a policy directive signed by Trump during his first term, TraCSS was created to enhance government oversight of satellite movements and space debris. The Office of Space Commerce, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has been operational since the 1980s, primarily focusing on the licensing of remote sensing and Earth observation satellites. TraCSS is intended to function as a cloud-based hub, gathering satellite tracking data from various spacecraft operators alongside a network of government and commercial observation systems. This information is crucial for issuing alerts about potential collisions in orbit, a growing concern as satellite launches increase significantly each year. In response to the proposed cuts, industry trade groups are mobilizing efforts to persuade Congress to restore the Office of Space Commerce’s budget to the previous level of $65 million. They emphasize that one of OSC's key roles is to provide essential space traffic coordination services for U.S. satellite operators, akin to the Federal Aviation Administration's duties in air traffic control for commercial aviation.