Legal battle | SpaceX fights back after being accused of firing staff who criticised Elon Musk

SpaceX has launched legal action in response to claims that it sacked employees who criticised their boss, Elon Musk.

The National Labour Relations Board (NLRB) had, earlier this week, accused the rocket and satellite maker of illegally firing employees who sent a letter to company executives calling CEO Elon Musk "a distraction and embarrassment."

As reported by Reuters, the NLRB alleges SpaceX violated federal labour law by firing eight workers in 2022 for signing onto the letter, which accused Musk of making sexist comments that went against company policies. That case will be heard by an administrative judge and then a five-member board appointed by the U.S. president. The board's decisions can be appealed in federal court.

But SpaceX in its lawsuit claims that because federal law only allows board members and administrative judges to be removed for cause, and not at will, the NLRB's structure is unconstitutional.