California Coastal Commission Settles SpaceX Bias Lawsuit

The California Coastal Commission settled a federal lawsuit with SpaceX on Tuesday, apologizing for improper statements by its members that showed political bias against the company and its CEO, Elon Musk, during a 2024 regulatory hearing.

The settlement, filed in Los Angeles federal court, stemmed from the commission's rejection of a U.S. Air Force proposal to increase Falcon 9 rocket launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base along the central California coast near Santa Barbara. In October 2024, commissioners voted against the expansion, citing concerns that the commercial activity required state coastal permits. SpaceX sued, alleging the decision violated its constitutional rights to free speech and due process by factoring in Musk's political views.

According to court documents, the commission acknowledged that its members made improper statements about Musk's political beliefs during the October 10 hearing on the base's Falcon 9 program. "The Commission agrees that it may not consider irrelevant factors in performing its function and specifically agrees that it will not take into account the perceived political beliefs, political speech or labor practices of SpaceX or its...