Since Donald Trump’s second term began, Blue Origin has secured roughly $1.1 billion in federal contracts, nearly matching what the Jeff Bezos-backed space company won during Joe Biden’s entire four years in office, reports The Wall Street Journal. The surge comes amid a notable thaw in the previously hostile public relationship between Bezos and Trump.
Among these deals are a $78 million U.S. Space Force contract to enhance Blue Origin’s spacecraft capabilities and a $188 million NASA contract to deliver cargo to the Moon’s south pole as part of the Artemis program. The Wall Street Journal also notes that Blue Origin gained entry in 2025 to compete for advanced military contracts, including the Golden Dome missile defense system.
This marks a significant shift for Blue Origin, which had limited engagement with the Pentagon prior to Trump’s return to the White House. SpaceX remains the dominant federal space contractor, with tens of billions in contracts over recent years for launches, NASA missions, the Starshield military satellite network, and more. In comparison, Blue Origin’s $1.1 billion haul signals government efforts to cultivate a second major supplier rather than dethrone SpaceX outright.
The WSJ story highlights Bezos’s parallel strategy of fostering warmer ties with Trump, beyond direct business dealings. Amazon, Bezos’s retail giant, donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund and paid $40 million for rights to a Melania Trump documentary, reportedly generating $10.7 million in license fees for the Trump family. Such moves may have helped soften relations at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Blue Origin’s federal contracts under Trump administration
Trump’s first term was marked by open clashes with Bezos. The president repeatedly criticized Amazon and The Washington Post, owned by Bezos. In 2019, Amazon legally challenged losing a Pentagon contract worth $10 billion for the JEDI cloud program, accusing political bias. That project was later scrapped, with funds spread among multiple vendors including Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Oracle.
The tone has changed dramatically. Trump reportedly invited Bezos to private dinners, welcomed him at events, and kept a friendly correspondence. The WSJ describes a moment at the exclusive Alfalfa Club dinner where Bezos showed clear support for Trump’s speech. While such glimpses don’t prove contract influence, access to the president remains a valuable currency in Washington, especially in defense circles.
For Blue Origin, such political access is critical given how far behind it lags SpaceX in launches and government contract revenue. Its heavy-lift rocket New Glenn only reached orbit for the first time in 2025 after years of delays, while SpaceX’s Falcon 9 flies routinely and Starship is already part of NASA’s and the Pentagon’s long-term plans despite some high-profile failures. Blue Origin has to prove technical reliability while embedding itself in government procurement.
The company also has lunar ambitions. NASA chose Blue Origin as the backup contractor to SpaceX for its crewed lunar lander program in 2023, awarding a $3.4 billion contract. Should the Trump administration continue advocating for Blue Origin’s deeper involvement in lunar missions, we could see expanded deals and new competitions in coming years.
However, more contracts don’t guarantee a stable role. In space, on-time rocket launches are the unforgiving metric. If New Glenn and Blue Origin’s lunar projects proceed without major setbacks, it could establish the company as the government’s reliable second-choice partner after SpaceX. Failure to meet expectations could close this political window just as quickly as it opened.