Former NASA chief turned ULA lobbyist seeks law to limit SpaceX funding

A former administrator of NASA has expressed optimism regarding proposed legislation aimed at limiting NASA's financial allocation to any single launch provider to no more than 50 percent. Jim Bridenstine, who once led NASA, shared his thoughts on LinkedIn, emphasizing the importance of competition among American companies for the nation's success in space exploration. Bridenstine commended the efforts of Senator Ted Cruz, the chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and ranking member Maria Cantwell for their roles in introducing a new provision within the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025. A markup hearing for this legislation is scheduled for Wednesday, signaling a significant step in the legislative process. The former NASA chief highlighted that this initiative aims to bolster the industrial base vital for both civil and national security missions in space. By fostering competition, Bridenstine argued, costs can be reduced, innovation can be accelerated, and redundancy can be enhanced, benefiting a range of manufacturers and suppliers. This legislative move appears to specifically target SpaceX, which currently operates the only crewed spacecraft able to reach the International Space Station, along with a majority of NASA’s scientific missions. If the bill becomes law, it could restrict SpaceX's ability to conduct crewed lunar missions for NASA using its Dragon or Starship vehicles. Interestingly, Bridenstine's consulting firm, The Artemis Group, reportedly earned $990,000 from United Launch Alliance in 2025, which accounted for nearly a third of all revenue the firm generated through lobbying activities last year, totaling $3,385,000. United Launch Alliance has historically been a significant competitor to SpaceX in the U.S. launch market.