Ferguson signs order creating Washington Space Council to coordinate industry strategy

Governor Ferguson signed an executive order creating the governor's Washington Space Council to coordinate state strategy on workforce development, infrastructure and potential Washington-based commercial launch capabilities. Ferguson said the council will "identify barriers for the industry and find opportunities for growth," with a focus on permitting, energy, and workforce needs.

"I'm going to be signing an executive order that creates the governor's Washington Space Council," Ferguson said during remarks at the signing ceremony, adding that the council will compare Washington with other leading states and help keep the state competitive. He framed the move as part of broader infrastructure and workforce investments the state is pursuing.

Ferguson told the audience he had proposed a "$1,500,000,000 investment" in infrastructure in his state-of-the-state address and that the legislature "stepped up and made that investment." He asked the room to acknowledge council members volunteering their time to "help chart a path forward." The signing concluded with a ceremonial presentation of the signing pen to a child named Sebastian.

The executive order text and membership roster were not read aloud in full during the event; next steps and staff responsibilities for implementing the council were not specified in the remarks at the ceremony.