Senate Confirms Meink as Air Force Secretary, Space Policy Takes Center Stage

On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate confirmed Troy Meink as Secretary of the Air Force, filling the final vacancy in President Donald Trump’s lineup of military service secretaries. The vote passed 74-25, with all dissenting votes coming from Democrats.

Meink, who has served as the principal deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) since 2020, brings a deep military and intelligence background to the role. His confirmation underscores the Trump administration’s focus on space as a key domain in national security, particularly given Meink’s prior roles in space policy and satellite oversight.

At his confirmation hearing, Meink emphasized the importance of strengthening the Space Force, calling it a critical priority amid rising global threats. “If the U.S. is going to maintain our advantage in space, we need to ensure we have the right talent and capabilities,” Meink told lawmakers.

Meink will immediately face decisions on high-profile programs, including the controversial location of the Space Command headquarters—long a point of contention between Colorado and Alabama—and the administration’s proposed “Golden Dome,” a space-based missile defense shield.

He will also oversee the development of the Air Force’s first sixth-generation fighter jet, for which Boeing was recently awarded a major contract.

While Meink’s military credentials earned bipartisan praise, his nomination was shadowed by questions about ties to SpaceX and Elon Musk. Reports surfaced earlier this year that Musk sat in on Meink’s interview for the role, and that Meink had previously been investigated for allegedly favoring the company in a contract award. Despite concerns from some Senate Democrats, these issues were not discussed during his confirmation hearing.