US Justice Department Accuses SpaceX of Discriminatory Hiring Practices
SpaceX is facing a lawsuit from the US Department of Justice, which accuses the company of practicing discriminatory hiring against refugees and asylum seekers. The lawsuit claims that these discriminatory practices took place from 2018 to 2022, and alleges that SpaceX falsely used export control laws as a justification for exclusively hiring US citizens and lawful permanent residents.
The DOJ began its investigation in 2020 after the department’s Immigrant and Worker Rights Division received complaints of employee discrimination. Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general for DOJ’s civil rights division, said in a statement that “the investigation found that SpaceX did not fairly consider or hire asylum seekers and refugees because of their citizenship status,” and said this was a “prohibition.” ” regardless of their qualifications. This is against federal law.
The investigation also found that “SpaceX recruiters and high-level officials took steps to actively discourage” these people from applying for jobs with the company.
The DOJ lawsuit seeks damages and back pay for “asylees and refugees who were intimidated or denied employment at SpaceX.” It also demands from the company civil penalties and changes to hiring practices. The Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) even claims that SpaceX ignored a subpoena related to the lawsuit in 2021, forcing the DOJ to ask a judge to order the company to comply with document requests.
The IER began this investigation in 2020 after plaintiff Fabian Hutter alleged discrimination after losing a position at SpaceX when he was asked about his citizenship status during a job interview. It’s asking other alleged victims to come forward and contact the department, especially if they’re not discouraged from applying to SpaceX for citizenship reasons.
Is this the only company run by Elon Musk that has legal issues with hiring and employee treatment? Of course not! The self-proclaimed “Tesla technology” faced penalties when a federal court found Musk illegally threatening workers’ compensation and unions. There is also a lawsuit pending in New York courts alleging that Musk and Tesla fired workers “in retaliation for union activity.”
Another major lawsuit alleging a racist work environment at Tesla was recently settled for just over $3 million. Employees sued Twitter/X after mass layoffs led by Musk. The list goes on for a man who repeated over and over that he just wants to save the world. Today, he spends most of his time posting controversial messages about X and is being investigated for building glass houses with Tesla funds.
