American billionaire Elon Musk announced on Tuesday his decision to move the headquarters of his companies, SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter), out of California. This announcement came just a day after California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill that prohibits school policies requiring staff to inform parents about their children’s gender identity changes without the child’s consent.
“This is the final straw,” Musk posted 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.”
Shortly after, Musk declared that X would also relocate from San Francisco to Austin, Texas. “I did make 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,” he stated.
The new legislation positions California as the first U.S. state to bar school districts from mandating staff to notify families about a student’s gender identity or sexual orientation without the student’s permission. Supporters of the law argue it protects the privacy and safety of LGBTQ+ students, while opponents believe it undermines parental rights.
Musk’s decision underscores the growing tensions between tech entrepreneurs and California’s regulatory environment. The move may have significant implications for the tech industry and could influence other businesses contemplating relocation due to state policies.
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Elon Musk to move headquarters of SpaceX and X out of California
cgtn.com
