Why It Matters

Hermeus Corp. is racing against regulatory and funding clocks to establish itself as a leading hypersonic aircraft developer. The company needs two critical wins: FAA approval for a second test flight and congressional backing for R&D funding embedded in defense appropriations bills.

An executive order from June 2025 has already begun dismantling decades-old regulatory barriers to supersonic flight, but Hermeus must secure specific flight permits while navigating a crowded field of competitors. Multiple legislative vehicles—including the bipartisan Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act and the MACH Act—are advancing through Congress, creating a narrow window where congressional appetite for hypersonic investment appears strong.

The national security imperative—driven by Pentagon warnings about Chinese and Russian hypersonic weapons superiority—is fueling sustained defense funding commitments, but only for companies that can effectively compete for appropriations dollars.

By the Numbers

Hermeus Corp. has spent approximately $3.18 million on lobbying since launching federal advocacy efforts in late 2019. The company’s last quarter engagement with Holland & Knight LLP for $90,000 represents a strategic shift in its lobbying approach.

From 2019-2023, Hermeus worked with external firms Velocity Government Relations LLC ($88,500) and Forbes Tate Partners LLC ($380,000). Since February 2023, the company shifted to in-house lobbying, investing nearly $2 million internally. The Holland & Knight engagement now supplements this internal effort.

The six-person Holland & Knight team brings heavyweight appropriations experience. Michael R. Wakefield spent more than 8 years as Senior Counsel to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Misha E. Lehrer served 5 plus years in the Senate, including for Appropriations Committee member Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT). The team’s mix of former appropriations staff and aerospace specialists represents an escalation from Hermeus’s previous external arrangements.

The Agenda

Hermeus Corp. is pursuing two primary objectives through its final quarter 2025 engagement with Holland & Knight LLP.

First, Hermeus seeks an FAA flight permit for a second test flight—a critical regulatory milestone for validating its technology. Second, the company is advocating for favorable provisions in the Supersonic Aviation Modernization (SAM) Act and FY 2026 Defense Appropriations bills to secure R&D funding.

The SAM Act would direct the FAA to permit civil supersonic flight over land if no sonic boom reaches the ground—essential for Hermeus’s commercial viability. The MACH Act would authorize NASA to create testing programs for commercial hypersonic companies.

Defense appropriations represent Hermeus’s near-term revenue opportunity, as the company pursues dual-use applications. The lobbying effort targets congressional appropriators controlling Pentagon budgets amid heightened national security focus on hypersonic capabilities.

Broader Context

The regulatory environment has undergone dramatic shifts. A June 2025 executive order directed the FAA to repeal its decades-old ban on civilian supersonic flight over U.S. land, with noise-based certification standards due by December 2026.

Congress is moving multiple supporting bills. The SAM Act cleared House subcommittee approval, allowing supersonic flight if sonic booms don’t reach the ground. FY 2026 Defense Appropriations includes a $100 million increase for advanced hypersonic missile development.

National security concerns drive this momentum. China has deployed hypersonic systems capable of reaching the U.S. west coast, prompting strong bipartisan support for accelerating American capabilities.

Between The Lines

Congress is framing the hypersonic push as "this generation’s space race." The Senate Appropriations Committee approved $100 million in new funding for advanced hypersonic missile development, reflecting sustained national security concerns.

The policy environment reflects broader competitive pressures. Former defense officials warn that China and Russia are outpacing the U.S. in hypersonic weapons development, generating strong bipartisan support for accelerating domestic capabilities.

Industry momentum is building. Boom Supersonic’s demonstrator has broken the sound barrier multiple times and targets FAA certification by decade’s end.

Competitive Landscape

Hermeus operates in an increasingly crowded space as Congress prioritizes hypersonic development. Starfighters Space Inc. is lobbying for hypersonic testing funding. Velontra Inc. is advocating on supersonic and hypersonic propulsion matters. Multiple players are vying for congressional attention on identical legislation and appropriations.

This competitive environment explains Hermeus’s investment in Holland & Knight’. The heightened competition makes sophisticated federal advocacy essential to ensure the company’s specific priorities receive adequate attention among numerous competing voices seeking the same resources.

The Bottom Line

Hermeus Corp.’s $90,000 engagement with Holland & Knight LLP reflects a company capitalizing on genuine policy momentum. Regulatory barriers are falling, Congress is advancing supportive legislation, and national security concerns are driving sustained defense spending.

The timing is strategic but not exceptional—multiple hypersonic companies are competing for the same funding and regulatory approvals.
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