By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Purpose.
The United States is poised to embark on an ambitious new era of aerospace innovation. For over half a century, archaic and overly stringent regulations have hindered the potential of supersonic flight over land, hampering American creativity, undermining our position in global markets, and allowing foreign rivals to take the lead. Thanks to breakthroughs in aerospace engineering, materials science, and noise reduction, supersonic flight is not just feasible but also safe, sustainable, and commercially practical. This directive marks the beginning of a monumental national initiative to reclaim America’s status as the foremost authority in high-speed aviation. By modernizing outdated standards and embracing current and future technologies, we will enable our engineers, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to usher in the next generation of air travel—one that is faster, quieter, safer, and more efficient than ever.
Sec. 2. Regulatory Reform for Supersonic Flight.
(a) The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shall take the necessary actions, including rulemaking, to rescind the ban on overland supersonic flight as per 14 CFR 91.817 within 180 days of this order. This includes establishing an interim noise-based certification standard and making necessary amendments to 14 CFR 91.818, all while remaining compliant with applicable laws. The FAA Administrator will also promptly work to repeal 14 CFR 91.819 and 91.821, thereby eliminating additional regulatory obstacles that impede the progress of supersonic aviation technology in the United States.
(b) Within 18 months of this order, the FAA Administrator will issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to set a standard for supersonic aircraft noise certification under 14 CFR Part 36 and amend 14 CFR 91.817. This proposed rule will define acceptable noise thresholds for takeoff, landing, and en-route supersonic operations based on operational testing, research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) data, as outlined in subsection 3(a) of this order. It will also take into account community acceptance, economic reasonableness, and technological viability. Furthermore, the proposed rule will establish a process for periodic review and updates to reflect future advancements in aircraft noise reduction technology. Any final rule related to the NPRM will be issued within 24 months of this order.
Sec. 3. Advancing Supersonic Research and Development.
(a) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) shall coordinate efforts in supersonic research and development, in consultation with heads of relevant executive departments and agencies, including the Secretaries of Defense, Commerce, Transportation, and the Administrator of NASA. The objective is to:
(i) Identify RDT&E needs for regulatory development, commercial viability, and the operational integration of supersonic aircraft into the National Airspace System;
(ii) Coordinate federally funded RDT&E and industry-led testing of supersonic technologies at federal test sites; and
(iii) Collect and disseminate the results of such RDT&E to inform domestic regulatory development and international engagement on civil supersonic issues.
(b) The OSTP Director shall provide the results from the coordinated efforts in subsection (a) to the FAA Administrator to guide the development of future procedures, regulations, and policies, including those related to civil supersonic aircraft certification and noise and environmental standards as discussed in this section 3.
Sec. 4. Promoting International Engagement on Civil Supersonic Flight Regulations.
(a) The Secretary of Transportation, through the FAA Administrator and in consultation with the OSTP Director and other relevant agency heads, shall engage with the International Civil Aviation Organization and key international partners to pursue global alignment on regulatory approaches for supersonic flight.
(b) The FAA Administrator, supervised by the Secretary of Transportation and in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall work to establish bilateral aviation safety agreements with foreign aviation authorities as necessary to facilitate the safe international operation of supersonic aircraft.
Sec. 5. General Provisions.
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) The authority granted by law to any executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) The functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget regarding budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented in accordance with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order does not intend to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other individual.
(d) The costs associated with the publication of this order shall be borne by the Federal Aviation Administration.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
June 6, 2025.
