Elon Musk has called on the California Coastal Commission after the agency cited his political statements and support for Donald Trump in denying SpaceX's request to launch from the state's central coast. He has vowed to take legal action against the group.
business insider report In a controversial decision Thursday, the California Coastal Commission said it would allow SpaceX to increase the number of Falcon 9 rocket launches a year from 36 to 50 at Vandenberg Space Force Base. They voted 6-4 against the request. The decision infuriated SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who threatened to sue the commission for violating his First Amendment rights.
During the meeting, Commissioner Gretchen Newsom raised concerns about Musk's political posts on social media and SpaceX's working conditions. “Elon Musk flies around the country spewing political falsehoods, tweeting, and attacking FEMA while claiming he wants to help hurricane victims with free Starlink internet access.” she stated. “The focus appears to be on maximizing profits rather than prioritizing the well-being of SpaceX's employees and the environment.”
Commission Chair Caryl Hart said that while the commission dealt with some political issues involving the U.S. government and the Coastal Commission, Musk “actively participated in the presidential campaign.” acknowledged.
Musk reacted to the decision on X (formerly Twitter), calling the commissioners' comments “incredibly inappropriate” and saying his posts on the platform had nothing to do with the Coastal Commission or the SpaceX launch. He claimed it had nothing to do with it. He announced his intention to sue the commission on Monday for violating the First Amendment, but later said he would file the lawsuit on Tuesday because courts are closed on Mondays. did.
The committee also disagreed with SpaceX and the military's classification of launches as federal agency activities, exempting the company from obtaining permits to conduct launches. Commissioners argued that since SpaceX is primarily a private company, it should obtain a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) itself.
Despite their differences, some members praised the military's recent efforts to work with the staff on environmental issues. The committee also noted serious concerns about the potential impact on the local environment caused by the rocket's sonic boom.
Dr. Ravi Chaudhary, assistant secretary of the Air Force, assured during the hearing that the Space Force remains committed to protecting the coastline and local coastal life.
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Lucas Nolan is a reporter for Breitbart News, covering free speech and online censorship issues.
