SpaceX, United Launch Services, and Blue Origin have secured a multibillion-dollar Pentagon contract for U.S. Space Force rocket launches. The National Security Space Launch (NSSL) contracts will support about 50 missions through 2029 and help launch sensitive satellites into orbit.
The projected values are $5.92 billion for SpaceX, $5.37 billion for United Launch Services, and $2.39 billion for Blue Origin. The deal comes as Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) pushes to cut federal spending.
Musk’s efforts have led to thousands of federal worker layoffs, but his own company’s contracts remain untouched. Industry observers describe SpaceX’s hold on the U.S. satellite launch market as a near-monopoly.
The Pentagon’s $850 billion budget is being trimmed, with 50,000 to 60,000 civilian jobs at risk. Critics argue that allowing a major contractor like SpaceX to review the department’s budget creates conflicts of interest. Musk defended his company’s contracts during a press briefing, stating that all awards were “by far the best value for money for the taxpayer.”
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-inking-multibillion-dollar-pentagon-deal-amid-doge-cutsreport-2055663