Musk's X and SpaceX Relocating to Texas in Rightward Political Shift

Elon Musk to Relocate X and SpaceX Headquarters to Texas

Elon Musk announced plans to move the headquarters of X and SpaceX to Texas, signaling his growing alignment with the political right and frustration with California's progressive policies. This decision comes in response to a newly enacted California law that restricts school districts from notifying parents about changes in their children's sexual orientation and gender identity.

In a social media post, Musk declared, “This is the final straw,” explaining the motivation behind SpaceX's relocation. The move underscores Musk's increasingly conservative stance, following his recent endorsement of former President Donald Trump for the upcoming US election and his pledge to contribute tens of millions of dollars monthly to Trump's campaign. Musk has long voiced his discontent with California's liberal politics and has previously threatened to relocate his businesses.

SpaceX’s New Base in Texas

Currently based in Hawthorne, California, SpaceX has been expanding its operations in South Texas, specifically at the Starbase facility in Boca Chica. This site serves as the primary hub for building and launching SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket system and features a new warehouse factory known as the Starfactory, replacing many production tents.

Meanwhile, X’s headquarters in San Francisco recently put several floors of its main building up for lease, though it retains some space for its employees. Additionally, X announced plans in January to open a small office in Austin to address content moderation challenges.

SpaceX’s Current Workforce and Operations

SpaceX employs approximately 13,000 people. The Hawthorne facility has been central to producing the company's Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. Governor Greg Abbott of Texas celebrated the move, claiming it solidifies Texas's leadership in space exploration.

Personal Stakes for Musk

The new Californian law may have personal implications for Musk, as one of his eldest children legally changed their name and severed ties with him upon turning 18, citing gender identity issues and a desire to dissociate from him. Musk has other significant connections to Texas, including moving Tesla Inc.'s business incorporation from Delaware to Texas and shifting Tesla’s headquarters from California to Austin in 2021 due to pandemic-related frustrations. Despite these changes, Tesla still maintains a strong presence in California, with an engineering headquarters in Palo Alto.

Musk further solidified his ties to Texas by relocating his personal residence there several years ago.