Elon Musk declared on Tuesday his intention to relocate the headquarters of SpaceX and X to Texas, citing his opposition to a California law that prohibits schools from mandating parental notification regarding changes to students’ gender identities.
“This is the final straw,” Elon Musk stated during an interview. “Because of this law and others like it that have targeted families and businesses, SpaceX will be moving its headquarters from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas.”
Elon Musk also disclosed plans to transfer X from its current San Francisco headquarters to Austin, Texas, a decision he had previously threatened but not executed until now. Earlier, Tesla, another company led by Elon Musk, had already shifted its headquarters from Palo Alto, California, to Austin.
“I warned Governor Newsom about a year ago that laws of this nature would drive families and businesses away from California to protect their children,” Elon Musk asserted in a written statement.
The billionaire entrepreneur has been vocal in his criticism of using preferred pronouns, often deriding the practice as part of what he calls a “woke” agenda that he believes is detrimental to society.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed the contentious bill into law on Monday following a heated legislative debate. The law overturns policies in conservative school districts that required teachers to notify parents if students changed their names, pronouns, or opted to use facilities and programs not corresponding to their officially registered gender.
Newsom, a potential contender for the presidency, has frequently clashed with conservatives over gender-related issues in state education. Last year, he signed legislation imposing fines on school districts that banned textbooks featuring LGBTQ figures and other marginalized groups.
This latest legislative move by Newsom follows previous disagreements with Elon Musk, dating back to the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Elon Musk publicly criticized the decisions of state and local health authorities.
The relocation of SpaceX and X headquarters is seen as a significant economic and symbolic shift amid ongoing debates over social policies and business climates in different U.S. states.
