Executives from leading U.S. satellite imaging companies are vehemently opposing proposed budget cuts to commercial remote sensing programs. In a June 16 letter to Congress, CEOs from Maxar Technologies, Planet, BlackSky, Iceye US, Capella Space, and KSAT, described the proposed cuts to the National Reconnaissance Office’s (NRO) programs as “sweeping” and contrary to established bipartisan policy. These cuts, as reported by SpaceNews, represent approximately a 30% reduction—around $130 million—in funding for the NRO’s Electro-Optical Commercial Layer (EOCL) program.
The proposed budget also eliminates funding for the acquisition of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery. SAR's capacity to penetrate cloud cover and operate in all weather conditions proved particularly valuable following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. “The FY26 budget request entirely removes funding for a Commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar program, makes significant reductions to the Electro-Optical Commercial Layer (EOCL) program, and disregards funding for future commercial radio frequency (RF) acquisitions at scale,” the CEOs wrote, emphasizing the contradiction with recent executive branch guidance and congressional mandates. The letter highlights the Pentagon's push for greater commercial integration, citing President Trump’s executive orders and the Pentagon’s 2024 Commercial Space Integration Strategy.
The companies argue that the cuts are strategically short-sighted, especially considering competition with China. “Congress has laid out clear mandates to integrate commercial products and services into defense and intelligence operations. Those directives must not be ignored by bureaucratic apathy or institutional bias favoring government-owned systems,” the executives stated, pointing to an ongoing debate within the intelligence community regarding reliance on commercial versus government systems. The NRO has increasingly relied on commercial providers in recent years due to the proliferation of small imaging satellites providing high-frequency coverage.
The letter emphasizes the substantial investments—billions of dollars—made by these companies in satellite constellations and infrastructure, investments made based on the expectation of sustained government demand. “Our companies have invested billions of dollars in space and ground technologies, created highly skilled jobs, and deployed hundreds of satellites that now underpin critical defense, intelligence, and civil missions,” the CEOs said. They argue that the cuts represent a “retrenchment from adopting commercial remote sensing capabilities,” posing a long-term risk to public-private partnerships. This sentiment is echoed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which warned of potential damage to America’s technological leadership. “Preserving and expanding investment in commercial remote sensing programs is crucial to maintaining America’s strategic edge and ensuring the safety and security of our nation and its allies,” wrote John Neal, executive director of space policy at the Chamber.