A federal judge refuses to block the Trump administration from completing a Texas land swap that would give SpaceX more than 700 acres of wildlife refuge land. US District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr declines to issue a preliminary injunction sought by plaintiffs to halt the exchange while the legal challenge continues.
The proposal involves an exchange in which SpaceX would surrender 683 acres it owns in return for the refuge land. Environmental and tribal groups argue the deal will worsen ecological risk to the Gulf Coast region affected by SpaceX-related operations, and they also raise cultural and historical concerns.
Rodriguez rules that the challengers did not provide sufficient evidence, particularly for the preliminary-injunction standard, to show the transfer would likely increase harm. The Guardian reports the judge says plaintiffs fail to demonstrate it would worsen ecological risks in an area already transformed by billionaire Elon Musk’s rocket activities. Environmental groups nevertheless vow to continue opposing the plan through the courts.
