The U.S. Department of Justice has decided to drop its lawsuit against SpaceX, which accused the company of refusing to hire certain immigrants. This move marks an abrupt end to a legal battle that began under the Biden administration.
In a Thursday court filing in Texas, government officials requested permission to formally dismiss the case with prejudice, ensuring it cannot be reopened. Neither SpaceX nor the Justice Department immediately commented on the decision.
The lawsuit, originally filed in August 2023, alleged that between 2018 and 2022, SpaceX systematically discouraged asylum seekers and refugees from applying for jobs, citing U.S. export control laws. The government argued that these laws did not impose such hiring restrictions.
SpaceX has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that strict compliance with export regulations dictated its hiring policies. The company also challenged the Justice Department’s authority in the matter, arguing that its administrative judges were improperly appointed.
The case had been on hold while a judge considered arguments from both sides. With this latest development, the legal standoff appears to have reached its conclusion, leaving SpaceX free from further scrutiny on the issue.
