Elon Musk has announced his intention to sue the California Coastal Commission after it denied a request to allow SpaceX an increased number of rocket launches. The commission rejected SpaceX’s proposal to increase its annual launches from 36 to 50 from Vandenberg Air Force Base citing his political statements on his social media platform X as a factor in their decision, a move which Musk says violates his First Amendment rights.
During the commission’s hearing last week, Gretchen Newsom, a commissioner, expressed concerns over Musk’s political activity, stating that his controversial posts on X, where he has shown support for Donald Trump and criticized federal agencies like FEMA and the FAA, played a role in her decision to vote against SpaceX’s proposal.
“It appears that rather than prioritizing the welfare of SpaceX employees and the environment, the focus has been on profit maximization,” Newsom was quoted as saying. These comments were followed by the commission’s vote of 6-4 against the request.
Musk responded strongly, calling the comments “incredibly inappropriate” and stating that his personal political views should have no bearing on a regulatory decision regarding rocket launches. “What I post on this platform has nothing to do with a ‘coastal commission’ in California!” Musk posted on X, adding that he would be filing a lawsuit on the grounds that the commission’s decision violated his First Amendment rights.
Incredibly inappropriate. What I post on this platform has nothing to do with a “coastal commission” in California!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 13, 2024
Filing suit against them on Monday for violating the First Amendment. https://t.co/bDgFPTdNal
The California Coastal Commission, whose members are appointed by the governor and the state legislature, is tasked with protecting the state’s coastline and ensuring that projects meet environmental standards. In its decision to deny the launch increase, the commission also pointed to environmental concerns such as the impact of additional sonic booms on wildlife.
Kevin Kiley, a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, called the commission’s actions “illegal” and stated that they should be reversed immediately. “This illegal action needs to be overturned,” Kiley posted on X, arguing that a regulatory body should not weigh in on the political views of a company’s CEO when making decisions about operational matters.
