Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk has announced plans to move the headquarters of two of his companies.
SpaceX and the social media platform X have long been based in California, but this is set to change as Musk relocates operations to Texas. According to Reuters, a new gender-identity law in California was the "last straw" for the SpaceX CEO.
Musk has never been shy about his political affiliations or opinions and frequently voices his thoughts on debates on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter. Recently, he took to X to endorse Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for U.S. president.
Reasons Behind the Move
Now, the billionaire has made headlines by announcing on Thursday that he will be moving the headquarters of SpaceX and X to Texas. This follows his earlier relocation of Tesla's headquarters and his own residence to Texas, where there is no state income tax.
Musk cited a new California law that prevents school districts from requiring teachers to notify parents if a child changes their gender identity or sexual orientation.
He criticized this and other laws as attacks on both families and companies. Musk, who has a transgender daughter, explained his decision on X, the platform he bought in 2022.
Political Stance
Musk has been increasingly vocal about his political views, often criticizing the Biden administration and Democratic positions on issues such as transgender rights and immigration.
California has historically supported Democratic candidates, while Texas is seen as a Republican stronghold.
Relocation Details
SpaceX’s main office will move to an existing facility in Boca Chica, Texas, while X will relocate to Austin. It is unclear how many jobs or facilities will move from California to Texas.
SpaceX currently has a large headquarters near Los Angeles, employing thousands to build its Falcon 9 rocket, Dragon astronaut capsules, and Starshield satellites.
In 2021, Musk moved Tesla’s headquarters from California to Texas but indicated that California would remain its engineering hub. Earlier this year, SpaceX’s incorporation was transferred from Delaware to Texas after a Delaware judge invalidated Musk's $56 billion compensation plan at Tesla.
