Reading Room Document

Waiver of Claims for Damages Arising Out of CooperativeSpace Activity

Congress has not authorized the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to waive subrogated claims on behalf of federal agencies against foreign States for damages arising out of cooperative space activity. An amendment to the Space Act would be necessary to grant NASA such authority. The President may waive claims, including subrogated claims, against foreign governments, in exchange for a reciprocal waiver from the foreign government. The President may delegate this authority to an agency head. The weight of authority supports the President's power to waive state claims against a foreign government. The OLC does not provide release dates for its opinions, so the release date listed is the date on which the opinion was authored. The original opinion is available at www.justice.gov/file/20211/download.

June 7, 1995