Why It Matters

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is positioning Blue Origin to establish itself as an essential national security space provider. The company’s New Glenn rocket remains uncertified for national security launches, costing it all seven FY2026 missions while competitor SpaceX dominates. Simultaneously, NASA has reopened the Artemis III lunar lander contract, offering Blue Origin a rare opportunity to compete against SpaceX for a contract worth potentially billions.

With Congress maintaining strong bipartisan support for space budgets despite fiscal constraints, Blue Origin’s strategy hinges on influencing appropriations priorities and accelerating its path to certification.

By the Numbers

Blue Origin LLC spent $550,000 on in-house lobbying in Q3 2025, targeting defense authorization, appropriations, and NASA legislation. The company has been lobbying since 2013 and established its in-house operation in 2015, working alongside external firms including K&L Gates LLP, Barnes & Thornburg LLP, and Holland & Knight LLP.

The company’s in-house team consists of four lobbyists. Megan L. Mitchell leads efforts since April 2015, accumulating $15.34 million across 43 disclosures. Margaret McNeece joined in July 2023 with $4.43 million in ten filings focused on space launch issues.

The strategic addition is Sarah R. Hanson, who served as Chief of Staff for Rep. Charlie Crist (D-FL-13) through December 2022. She brings six years of House experience and recent high-level Democratic congressional access, complementing the team’s existing Republican-side connections.

The Agenda

Blue Origin LLC is lobbying on specific defense, appropriations, and science legislation during Q3 2025. The company’s focus includes the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (S.2296, H.R.3838), multiple FY2026 appropriations bills spanning Commerce/Justice/Science (H.R.5342, S.2354), and Defense (H.R.4016, S.2572). The company also anticipates lobbying on an upcoming NASA Reauthorization Act.

Broader Context

Congress is actively shaping commercial spaceflight through multiple legislative vehicles in Q3 2025. A significant policy shift is underway in lunar exploration. NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy announced the agency is reopening the Artemis III lunar lander contract to competition beyond SpaceX, citing schedule delays and the imperative to beat China to the lunar surface by 2030. This creates a direct opportunity for Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander.

On national security space launch, competitive pressures intensify. SpaceX secured five of seven awarded FY2026 national security missions, while Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket remains uncertified for such missions and faces its "next opportunity for a mission in FY27."

Both House and Senate Appropriations committees rejected the Trump Administration’s proposed 24.3% NASA budget cut, maintaining roughly $24.8 billion in agency funding and signaling congressional protection of space priorities.

Between The Lines

Lawmakers from both parties are publicly celebrating Blue Origin’s achievements. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) praised the New Glenn rocket launch, while Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA-41) emphasized competition between Blue Origin and SpaceX as benefiting national security. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) applauded Blue Origin’s $190 million NASA lunar contract selection. This supportive environment reflects broader congressional consensus on commercial space’s strategic importance.

Competitive Landscape

Blue Origin operates within an intensifying competitive environment for federal space contracts. SpaceX secured five of seven fiscal year 2026 national security launch missions, while United Launch Alliance received the remaining two. Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket remains uncertified for national security launches and will receive no missions in FY2026.

The competitive dynamics shifted dramatically when NASA reopened the Artemis III lunar lander contract beyond SpaceX, directly benefiting Blue Origin’s lobbying agenda. Rep. Ken Calvert emphasized that competition between providers like Blue Origin and SpaceX "benefits our national security, our economic prosperity, our taxpayers, and scientific discovery."

The Bottom Line

The company’s four-person lobbying team blends deep space policy expertise with fresh congressional connections through former House Chief of Staff Sarah R. Hanson. Blue Origin’s advocacy occurs amid congressional support for commercial space initiatives and heightened geopolitical competition with China—creating a receptive environment for its policy goals.