In a dramatic twist to a growing political and corporate spat, Elon Musk has walked back his threat to decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, a vital vehicle used to ferry NASA astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station (ISS). The reversal comes as tensions between Musk and former U.S. President Donald Trump continue to mount following a heated exchange on X (formerly Twitter).
The Dragon spacecraft, a cornerstone of NASA’s crewed spaceflight program, is currently the only operational U.S. vehicle capable of transporting astronauts to the ISS. SpaceX holds multi-billion dollar contracts with NASA for periodic flights, and Dragon is expected to serve the ISS until its planned retirement in 2030.
Musk vs. Trump: The Feud That Shook Space Policy
The standoff began when Musk harshly criticized Trump’s recently proposed tax legislation, labeling it a “disgusting abomination” and warning it would balloon the national deficit by $2.4 trillion over the next decade. In response, Trump threatened to pull government contracts from Musk’s companies — SpaceX and its satellite subsidiary, Starlink — accusing the tech mogul of misusing taxpayer dollars and favoring Democratic interests.
Doubling down, Trump also withdrew support for private astronaut Jared Isaacman, a billionaire who has flown aboard SpaceX missions, dismissing him as “totally Democrat.”
In retaliation, Musk threatened to decommission Dragon — a move that could have brought America’s human spaceflight capabilities to a grinding halt. The dramatic declaration sparked backlash from the aerospace community, with Lori Garver, former NASA Deputy Administrator, stating:
> “A rogue CEO threatening to decommission spacecraft, putting astronauts’ lives at risk, is untenable.”
A Strategic Retreat — For Now
Facing growing criticism, Musk appeared to heed a public appeal for restraint. Replying to a user on X who urged him to cool tensions, Musk responded affirmatively and confirmed he would not follow through on his threat to shut down Dragon operations.
The decision to step back has brought temporary relief to NASA. According to Bethany Stevens, a SpaceX spokesperson, NASA will continue to carry out the President’s vision while working closely with industry partners.
Still, the uncertainty has rattled those within the space sector. If Musk had followed through, NASA would have faced a major operational crisis, with its only certified crew transport vehicle sidelined.
Limited Alternatives
Though Boeing’s Starliner is technically in development as an alternative to Dragon, the spacecraft has struggled with reliability. A botched test flight in 2024 left two astronauts stranded on the ISS for months, and NASA has yet to certify it for regular use.
SpaceX, in contrast, has not only launched multiple successful crewed missions since its first for NASA in 2020, but has also flown six private astronaut missions — including upcoming plans with Axiom Space to send another civilian crew to the ISS on June 10.
NASA even had to rely on SpaceX to bring home Starliner astronauts following engine issues. This only underscores the critical role Dragon plays not just for public missions, but also for commercial space travel.
National Security and the Bigger Picture
Musk’s companies are deeply entwined with U.S. national space interests. SpaceX holds around $22 billion in government contracts, spanning scientific missions, military payload launches, and the creation of a classified intelligence satellite network. The Pentagon also relies on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket and Starlink services, including a military version known as Starshield.
In addition, NASA has chosen SpaceX’s Starship as the lunar lander for its upcoming Artemis moon missions. However, confidence in the program took a hit when Starship’s ninth test flight ended in a crash over Texas.
Despite these setbacks, Musk remains a pivotal figure in America’s space ambitions. His recent public feud with Trump may have been a power play — but one that exposed the fragility of public-private partnerships when personalities clash at the highest level.