Elon Musk has announced that SpaceX plans to file a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over what he describes as "regulatory overreach."
The legal challenge comes after the FAA imposed fines totaling $633,000 on the aerospace company for alleged violations related to two launches in 2023.
The FAA claims SpaceX failed to comply with licensing and safety protocols, including the use of an “unapproved rocket propellant farm” during its EchoStar XXIV Jupiter mission in July 2023.
A month earlier, during a launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, SpaceX had reportedly used an unapproved launch control room and modified its communication plans without proper authorisation. The FAA said it had notified SpaceX in advance that these modifications would not be approved, yet the company proceeded with the launch.
Musk responded to the FAA's actions with a post on X, where he characterized the agency's fines as "lawfare" and accused its leadership of being out of touch.
"NASA trusts SpaceX for all astronaut transport to and from the International Space Station, but somehow the FAA thinks it knows better," Musk wrote to his nearly 200 million followers.
The FAA has not responded to Musk's comments or requests for further clarification.
Environmental concerns have also plagued the company. In August, SpaceX faced scrutiny from both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for violating the Clean Water Act at its Starbase facility in Texas.
These agencies found that SpaceX had failed to obtain necessary permits for industrial wastewater discharges, further complicating the company’s regulatory challenges.
In addition to battling the FAA, SpaceX has also filed a federal lawsuit against the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging that the board’s structure is unconstitutional and violates the principle of separation of powers.
