“McALLEN, Texas — Environmental groups on Wednesday sued attempting to stop the Trump administration from giving SpaceX more than 700 acres (280 hectares) of wildlife refuge in Texas, claiming it would worsen ecological risks to a Gulf Coast region already transformed by billionaire Elon Musk’s rocket operations.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this month approved moving forward with the deal with SpaceX, which would surrender 683 acres (276 hectares) the company owns in exchange for federal land in the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The 103,000-acre (41,700-hectare) refuge spans four counties along the Texas border and is home to animal habitats and historical landmarks.
Maps show the land SpaceX would acquire would be closer to the company’s launchpad near the U.S.-Mexico border.
The exchange would be the first time the U.S. government has swapped land in the area with SpaceX, said Laiken Jordahl, a spokesperson with the Center for Biological Diversity, which filed the lawsuit alongside other opponents.”
Valerie Gonzalez reports for the Associated Press June 10, 2026.
SEE ALSO:
“SpaceX’s Starship Rockets Are Grounded Pending Investigation After Test Flight” (AP)
“SpaceX’s IPO Is Set To Be The Biggest Ever And Could Make Elon Musk A Trillionaire” (AP)
