
Trump administration to revive National Space Council
The revival of the council ends speculation that President Donald Trump would not bring back the office following lobbying from Musk's SpaceX company.
The council, which Trump also revived in 2017 after it had been dormant for 24 years, is chaired according to law by the vice president. A White House official, who was granted anonymity to discuss plans that had not been announced, confirmed that the White House was staffing the council.
The council is normally staffed by an executive secretary and a small number of officials. The council serves as an executive branch body for developing space policy and keeping agencies with space portfolios on task, from the Space Force to the Department of Commerce's space offices.
The council will likely take on the Trump administration's already lengthy space ambitions, including building a space-based missile shield called Golden Dome, beating China to a moon landing before 2030, landing astronauts on Mars, and supporting commercial space companies. That includes potentially launching new rockets next year to trial systems for landing astronauts on Mars.
The council could dilute the influence of Musk, founder of SpaceX and confidante to Trump, who plans to step away as top adviser to the president. Reuters in January reported that SpaceX opposed the return of the National Space Council, and Trump was 'likely' to end it.
The council would also provide an avenue for industry to inform White House space policy through the body's Users' Advisory Group.
Vice President JD Vance has made few public pronouncements on space, making it unclear how he might lead the council. However, as a senator he served on the committee that covers space, and was a co-sponsor on a space bill. His former position as a senator for Ohio put him in contact with major NASA research facilities in Cleveland.
The office was founded in 1989, but was unstaffed from 1993 to 2017, when Trump brought it back in his first term in a ceremony that included astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the moon.
That council, chaired by Vice President Mike Pence with Scott Pace as its executive secretary, was viewed as influential in helping establish the Space Force, NASA's planned return to the moon under the Artemis program, and ushering in regulatory reform in support of commercial space companies.
Then-President Joe Biden continued to staff the space council, but the body was viewed as less influential by some due to diminished public engagement from Vice President Kamala Harris.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
EMCOR Group (EME) Sees EPS Surge as Net Income Climbs to US$241 Million
EMCOR Group recently announced a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per common share, to be paid on July 31, 2025. This steady dividend approach aligns with the company's robust quarterly performance, which saw net income rise to $241 million and EPS increase substantially year-over-year. Additionally, the ongoing share buyback program has strengthened shareholder returns. Despite the broader market's moderate growth of 1.4% over the past week and 17% over the past year, EMCOR's notable share repurchases and solid financial outcomes appear to have amplified investor confidence, contributing to the company's impressive 55% stock price surge last quarter. We've spotted 1 risk for EMCOR Group you should be aware of. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 22 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. EMCOR Group's recent announcement of a quarterly dividend and the implementation of its share buyback program underline its commitment to enhancing shareholder returns. Despite a potential downside to the current share price of US$635.06, which exceeds the consensus analyst price target of US$549.57 by 13.46%, these actions could continue to buoy investor confidence. The company's performance over the past five years, with a total return exceeding 844.60%, showcases its robust long-term trajectory. In the last year, EMCOR's share performance exceeded both the broader market's 17.2% and the US Construction industry's 54.2% return, highlighting its strong standing relative to peers. The successful integration of acquisitions and strategic diversification into sectors like data centers and healthcare is anticipated to impact future revenue positively. This, coupled with operational efficiencies and strong revenue collaboration, may reinforce earnings projections. However, EMCOR's earnings forecasts of a 6.2% annual growth rate lag behind the broader market's 14.9% forecast, which could present challenges in meeting broader industry expectations. The company's impressive share price rise of 55% last quarter signals optimism, though its current value being above the target may indicate overvaluation concerns. Nevertheless, the consistent cash flow and healthy margins underscore its potential resilience against margin pressures, supply chain challenges, and other economic uncertainties. As analysts estimate revenue growth to 7.9% annually over the next three years, any tangible improvement in operational metrics could shift the valuation outlook positively. Unlock comprehensive insights into our analysis of EMCOR Group stock in this financial health report. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include EME. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


Boston Globe
8 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Pope Leo says migrants and refugees can bring light and aspiration from dark corners of the world
'In a world darkened by war and injustice, even when all seems lost, migrants and refugees stand as messengers of hope,' he said. 'Their courage and tenacity bear heroic testimony to a faith that sees beyond what our eyes can see and gives them the strength to defy death on the various contemporary migration routes.' Advertisement The remarks from Leo, who ascended to the papacy earlier this year to become the first American pope, come amid the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration. In recent months, Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Los Angeles and other cities have sparked protests across the country, and a surge in detentions has led to immigrants being held in overcrowded facilities with deteriorating conditions. Pope Leo showed a special interest in the well-being of immigrants during his work before the Vatican and has been described as the 'first modern immigrant pope.' In a May meeting, he emphasized this side of his past to diplomats, telling them, 'My own story is that of a citizen, the descendant of immigrants, who in turn chose to emigrate.' Advertisement 'All of us, in the course of our lives, can find ourselves healthy or sick, employed or unemployed, living in our native land or in a foreign country, yet our dignity always remains unchanged: It is the dignity of a creature willed and loved by God,' he said. Before his papacy, Leo served the poor in Peru for decades and was especially concerned about Venezuelan migrants who fled there, opening churches as soup kitchens and asking priests to convert free spaces into makeshift refuges while bishop of Chiclayo. That side of his work has resonated with other leaders in the church. The Rev. Russell Pollitt, a Jesuit priest at Holy Trinity Catholic Church near Johannesburg, said in May that Leo 'seems to have been someone who was on the side of migrants and refugees flocking to Peru from Venezuela.' 'I think that's important, that we don't lose that. Migrants and refugees are becoming a sort of scapegoat for politicians,' he said. In this past week's letter, Leo stressed that communities that welcome migrants and refugees can become living witnesses to hope. 'In this way, migrants and refugees are recognized as brothers and sisters, part of a family in which they can express their talents and participate fully in community life.' He wished for spiritual protection for 'all those who are on the journey, as well as those who are working to accompany them.'


The Hill
8 minutes ago
- The Hill
Venezuelan Little League team denied US visas for World Series
A Venezuelan Little League baseball team will miss the Senior Baseball World Series held in South Carolina after it was was denied entry into the U.S. because the players were unable to obtain visas. Cacique Mara Little League team, from Maracaibo, Venezuela, qualified for the World Series after winning the Latin American championship in Mexico, but will not be able to compete in Easley, S.C. because they were unable to 'obtain the appropriate visas' to travel, according to Little League International. Little League International said in a statement to The Hill that while this is 'extremely disappointing, especially to these young athletes,' the tournament committee has decided to advance the second-place team from the Latin American championship, Santa María de Aguayo from Tamaulipas, Mexico. The league said the replacement will ensure the 'Latin America Region is represented in the tournament and that the players, coaches and families from Mexico are able to have a memorable World Series experience.' A senior State Department official told The Hill on Saturday that U.S. consular officers are currently 'working to review the case to confirm proper procedures were followed and necessary appeals were submitted by the visa applicants.' Venezuela is on President Trump's list of countries where the entry of their nationals is partially restricted or limited. Six other countries — Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo and Turkmenistan — are also included. In early June, Trump also fully restricted the entry of nationals from 12 nations: Afghanistan, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The administration pointed to national security concerns when announcing the travel restrictions. The Venezuelan baseball team went to Colombia two weeks ago to apply for travel visas, according to The Associated Press (AP). 'It is a mockery on the part of Little League to keep us here in Bogotá with the hope that our children can fulfill their dreams of participating in a world championship,' the baseball team said in a statement, according to the AP. 'What do we do with so much injustice, what do we do with the pain that was caused to our children.'