Sens. Warren and Blumenthal Launch Probe of NLRB's Dismissal of SpaceX Labor Charges

, initiated an investigation into the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on April 15, concerning the agency's decision to drop charges against SpaceX over retaliatory firings. The investigation was reported by CNBC. The NLRB had previously charged SpaceX with illegally terminating employees who criticized Musk in an open letter, which alleged sexist conduct and a culture of sexual harassment at the company.

However, the NLRB dismissed these charges in February, citing jurisdictional issues and stating that SpaceX should be regulated under the Railway Labor Act, which governs labor relations at railroad and airline companies. In their letter, Warren and Blumenthal demanded information and records from the NLRB by April 29, including a list of all communications between the agency and Musk or his representatives.

They also requested precedent for classifying a rocket company like SpaceX as a mail carrier by air, as part of the NLRB's rationale for its jurisdictional shift.

The NLRB's dismissal of the charges has raised concerns about the protection of workers' rights, particularly as SpaceX is seeking to go public in June with a valuation target of $2 trillion. In 2024, SpaceX filed a federal lawsuit arguing that the NLRB's structure violated the Constitution, following the termination of nine employees who had sent the open letter to management.

CNBC has reached out to the NLRB and SpaceX for comment.