SpaceMiningData
Executive instrumentUnited StatesIn force

U.S. Executive Order 13914 (6 April 2020): Encouraging International Support for the Recovery and Use of Space Resources

Presidential executive order stating U.S. policy that Americans should have the right to engage in commercial exploration, recovery and use of space resources consistent with applicable law, that the U.S. does not view outer space as a global commons, and that the U.S. is not a party to and will object to treating the Moon Agreement as customary international law.

Facts

Level
Executive instrument
Scope
National
Country
United States
Citation
Executive Order 13914 of April 6, 2020, 85 FR 20381 (April 10, 2020)
Adopted
2020-04-06
In force
2020-04-06
Status
In forcePublished at 85 FR 20381 (10 April 2020). No revocation found: the later space executive order EO 14369 (18 Dec 2025, 90 FR 60537) was checked and does not mention EO 13914.

Resource provisions

A paraphrase followed by the source wording.

Policy statement, not a grant of rights: Americans should have the right to commercially explore, recover and use space resources consistent with applicable law; outer space is not viewed as a global commons; the State Department is to object to treating the Moon Agreement as customary international law and to seek joint statements and bilateral/multilateral arrangements on safe and sustainable recovery.

Americans should have the right to engage in commercial exploration, recovery, and use of resources in outer space, consistent with applicable law. [2]

Open evidence gaps

  • No official disposition table entry was retrieved confirming EO 13914 remains unrevoked as of 2026-09-25; status rests on absence of revocation in the later space orders checked (EO 14335, EO 14369).

Sources

5 sources
  1. [1]Executive Order 13914 of April 6, 2020 - Encouraging International Support for the Recovery and Use of Space Resources (85 FR 20381)
    Federal Register / U.S. Government Publishing OfficeLegislationPublished 2020-04-10Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource provisionsarticle Sec. 1
    Outer space is a legally and physically unique domain of human activity, and the United States does not view it as a global commons.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  2. [2]Executive Order 13914 - Sec. 1
    Federal Register / U.S. Government Publishing OfficeLegislationPublished 2020-04-10Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource provisionsarticle Sec. 1
    Americans should have the right to engage in commercial exploration, recovery, and use of resources in outer space, consistent with applicable law.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  3. [3]Executive Order 13914 - Sec. 2 (Moon Agreement)
    Federal Register / U.S. Government Publishing OfficeLegislationPublished 2020-04-10Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource provisionsarticle Sec. 2
    the Secretary of State shall object to any attempt by any other state or international organization to treat the Moon Agreement as reflecting or otherwise expressing customary international law
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  4. [4]Executive Order 13914 - signature and publication
    Federal Register / U.S. Government Publishing OfficeLegislationPublished 2020-04-10Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: adopted date, citation
    Executive Order 13914 of April 6, 2020 Encouraging International Support for the Recovery and Use of Space Resources
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  5. [5]Executive Order 14369 - Ensuring American Space Superiority (90 FR 60537), checked for revocation of EO 13914
    Federal RegisterLegislationPublished 2025-12-23Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: statusarticle Sec. 2(a)(i)
    lay the foundations for lunar economic development
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.