Billionaire Elon Musk said Tuesday he will shift the headquarters of privately held SpaceX and social media site X to Texas from California — calling Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to sign a new student gender identity law “the final straw.”
The law, signed Monday, blocks school districts from requiring teachers to notify parents about changes in a student’s gender identity or sexual orientation without the child’s permission. It also requires the state’s Department of Education to create resources for families of LGBTQ+ students from seventh grade through high school.
“This is the final straw,” Musk wrote on X. “Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas.”
Musk added that he made “it clear to Governor Newsom about a year ago that laws of this nature would force families and companies to leave California to protect their children.”
In another post, the billionaire added that the San Francisco headquarters for X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, will move to Austin, Texas.
“Have had enough of dodging gangs of violent drug addicts just to get in and out of the building,” Musk wrote on X.
Critics have argued the bill is too invasive and undercuts the rights of parents. One group that opposed the bill, the California Family Council, said it “undermines their fundamental role and places boys and girls in potential jeopardy.”
Meanwhile, proponents said the bill would provide necessary protection for transgender students in parents who live in disapproving households. The law takes effect in January.
In a separate reply to an X post by “All In” podcast host Jason Calacanis, Musk said the law would cause “a lot of families and companies will move out of California.”
“Who would want to risk the state taking away their kids?” Musk said.
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Musk’s move “cements Texas as the leader in space exploration.”
The Post reached out to SpaceX for further comment.
Musk had previously moved the physical headquarters of his electric car firm Tesla to Texas from California in 2021 after clashing with Newsom and other local authorities about their pandemic policies.
In a separate move, Tesla moved its state of incorporation to Texas from Delaware earlier this year. Musk pushed for the change after a Delaware judge rejected his pay package, arguing it was too excessive.
With Post wires
