Members of the US Congress voiced serious concerns on May 14 regarding proposed cuts to funding for commercial satellite imagery procurement. These potential cuts, reported as coming from the Trump administration, are feared to negatively impact US intelligence capabilities and contradict the stated White House focus on commercial technologies within the defense sector.
During a House Armed Services Committee hearing, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) highlighted “rumors” that the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), under instructions from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), has been ordered to reduce funding for commercial imagery in its fiscal year 2026 budget request. “I am especially concerned about the rumor that the National Reconnaissance Office, at the direction of OMB, has slashed commercial imagery funding lines in the FY26 budget,” Moulton stated. Rep. George Whitesides (D-Calif.) shared similar concerns, suggesting that funding reductions for commercial remote sensing by both the NRO and the US Space Force appear to contradict the administration's publicly stated priorities.
Whitesides emphasized, “It also seems to go against stated administration priorities, and we also want to make sure that we’re maintaining a sort of a wide base of suppliers.” Neither lawmaker offered specific details about the potential cuts' extent.
The hearing included testimony from several high-ranking officials, including NRO Director Christopher Scolese. While Scolese didn't directly address the rumored cuts, he did highlight the crucial role of commercial data for defense and intelligence missions. “We very much value the commercial capabilities and intend to keep on using those,” Scolese confirmed. “It’s largely based on demand, of course, but commercial is absolutely critical to what we’re doing.”
The NRO’s increased reliance on commercial providers, particularly through the Electro-Optical Commercial Layer (EOCL) contract – a substantial $4 billion, 10-year initiative launched in 2022 – is well-documented. Industry sources suggest the administration's proposed cuts could directly impact the EOCL contract.
Rep. Moulton argued that such cuts would not only limit access to crucial imagery but also hinder innovation within the commercial space sector. He further expressed worry over reported reductions in the Space Force’s FY26 budget, stating, “Cuts to the Space Force would be catastrophic.”
These proposed budget cuts come amid wider adjustments within the US intelligence community, with the Trump administration pursuing personnel reductions in various key agencies.