Musk to Move SpaceX, X HQs to Texas Over California Law Frustration

On Tuesday, Elon Musk said that X and SpaceX will move their headquarters from California to Texas, citing a new gender-identity law as the “last straw”

By taking these measures, the magnate, who last week supported Republican Donald Trump for the presidency of the United States, will have relocated Tesla and most of the businesses under his control or management to Texas.

In 2021, the world’s wealthiest individual relocated from California to Texas, with no state income tax for individuals.

According to Musk, Tuesday’s announcement was influenced by a recent California law that prohibits school districts from mandating that instructors inform parents when a child’s sexual orientation or gender identity changes.

Musk, who has a transgender daughter, explained the decision on X, previously known as Twitter, during a 2022 interview. “Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies,” he stated.

In recent years, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX has become increasingly vocal about politics, frequently criticizing the Biden administration and the Democratic Party’s stances on matters such as immigration and transgender rights.

Historically, Democratic candidates have been supported by California voters, while Texas is regarded as a dependable Republican stronghold.

Musk announced that SpaceX’s primary office would relocate to an existing facility in Boca Chica, Texas, and that X would relocate to Austin. However, the extent to which employment or facilities in California will be transferred to Texas is still being determined.

SpaceX maintains a vast headquarters near Los Angeles, a significant aerospace center, where thousands of employees construct the company’s Falcon 9 rocket, Dragon astronaut capsules, and a few Star Shield satellites.

Musk relocated Tesla’s headquarters from California to Texas in 2021; however, he declared that California would continue to serve as its engineering center the previous year.

He relocated SpaceX’s incorporation from Delaware to Texas earlier this year. This occurred after a Delaware judge decided to invalidate Musk’s $56 billion compensation plan at Tesla, an electric vehicle manufacturer.