The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday that it would drop its case accusing SpaceX of unfairly excluding certain immigrants from job opportunities. The case, initially filed during President Joe Biden’s administration, had raised concerns over SpaceX’s hiring practices between 2018 and 2022.
In August 2023, the Justice Department filed an administrative complaint, alleging that SpaceX had discouraged asylum seekers and refugees from applying for jobs. The department claimed that the company’s job postings and public statements restricted applicants to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, citing U.S. export control laws. However, the department asserted that such laws did not impose such hiring restrictions.
SpaceX, based in Texas, denied any wrongdoing, arguing that it was complying with strict export control laws that limited its hiring practices. In a court filing, the company stated, “SpaceX follows strict policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all export control laws and prevent unlawful discrimination.”
In Thursday’s filing in Brownsville, Texas, government lawyers requested a judge lift a temporary pause and dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. SpaceX had earlier filed a lawsuit to block the case, questioning the legitimacy of the DOJ’s administrative judges, arguing that their appointment violated constitutional procedures.
The Justice Department has not yet responded to requests for comment, and both SpaceX and the department were unavailable for immediate response. The case had been temporarily halted while the judge weighed both parties’ arguments.
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