The purpose of this executive order is to incentivize and support commercial space activities and competition. In order to speed up license and permit approvals, it directs the secretary of transportation to: (a) eliminate or expedite DOT Environmental reviews to the granting of launch and reentry licenses and permits; (b) determine which DOT functions are not subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (establishing environmental protection); (c) establish exclusions under the NEPA for launch and reentry licenses and permits; (d) reevaluate 14 CFR part 450 as to what regulatory requirements should be applicable for the launch and reentry of vehicles that possess a flight termination system or automated flight safety system, or hold valid FAA airworthiness certificates; (e) whether to expand the conditions that demonstrate reliability for a reentry vehicle; and (f) whether other existing requirements of 14 CFR part 450 are too attenuated to a vehicle’s actual launch or reentry to warrant retention in part 450.

It also directs the secretary of commerce to reform regulatory barriers to spaceport (site for testing, assembling, launching and receiving spacecraft) infrastructure and determine whether state approvals under the Coastal Zone Management Act (federal law aimed at managing and protecting coastal resources) should be revoked; and it directs the secretaries of defense, commerce and transportation, as well as the administrator of NASA, to notify the Department of Justice of any state or local limitations on spaceport development on federal lands that may be inconsistent with federal law.

Finally, it directs the secretaries of defense,  interior, and transportation and the administrator of NASA to use all available authorities to expedite their respective environmental and administrative reviews for authorizing and permitting activity relevant to spaceport infrastructure.