Trump signs order to establish US Space Academy, a new NASA-led federal institution
President Trump signed an executive order to create a US Space Academy, a new federal institution for space-focused education and training.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to begin the process of establishing a new federal institution called the US Space Academy. The announcement was made on Friday during an event at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, where Trump was awarding the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the crew of the Artemis II mission.
In his address, Trump said the academy is needed to educate and train a generation of skilled service members, engineers, and civilian operators. He noted that the rapid growth of the Space Force and expanded ambitions for lunar and deep-space missions require a dedicated educational institution.
The proposed academy will be led by NASA and is intended to serve the United States Space Force, NASA, and the civilian spaceflight industry. According to a government factsheet, it will combine technical education with leadership development and a commitment to public service.
The executive order establishes a Presidential Commission to oversee the planning process. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman will chair the commission, with the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy serving as vice chairs. The commission will make recommendations on governance, curricula, service obligations, and a permanent location for the academy.
A location has not yet been selected. Trump said he expects to choose one soon and joked that Senator Ted Cruz of Texas has been lobbying for the academy to be placed in his state.
Funding details remain unclear. Congress would need to approve any budget for building the campus and running programs. The White House has stated that the academy is necessary to maintain American leadership in space exploration and technology, citing increasing competition in the sector and a shortage of graduates in relevant technical fields.
The Space Force was established in December 2019, becoming the first new branch of the US armed services since 1947. Currently, Space Force officer candidates are typically trained through the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.