In addition, the DOJ is also investigating whether SpaceX is delaying a subpoena for information.
Elon Musk‘s SpaceX is currently under investigation with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) over complaints on hiring discrimination. The DOJ is investigating whether aerospace company SpaceX discriminates in its hiring process.
DOJ and SpaceX
According to a complaint received by the DOJ’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section, SpaceX discriminated against a non-US citizen while hiring.
In a court document filed on the 28th of January, DOJ attorney Lisa Sandoval noted:
“Specifically, the charge alleges that on or about March 10, 2020, during the Charging Party’s interview for the position of Technology Strategy Associate, SpaceX made inquiries about his citizenship status and ultimately failed to hire him for the position because he is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.”
In addition, the DOJ is also investigating whether SpaceX is delaying a subpoena for information.
The DOJ’s Immigrant and Employees Rights (IER) Section revealed that it had sent an email to SpaceX about the investigation. The IER also stated that SpaceX should to present documents on its hiring processes, including its employment eligibility verification process.
The filing further revealed that SpaceX replied to the DOJ’s request in August. SpaceX provided a Form I-9 spreadsheet of details on employees starting from June 2019. However, Sandoval wrote that SpaceX refused “to produce any Form I-9 supporting documentation, such as copies of employees’ passports, driver’s licenses, or Social Security cards.”
SpaceX Files Petition to Dismiss IER’s Subpoena
CNBC stated that SpaceX moved to dismiss IER’s subpoena that was filed on the 7th of October. According to the filing with a DOJ administrative tribunal, SpaceX argued that the subpoena exceeded IER’s authority. However, the petition was denied, and the DOJ administrative tribunal ordered the aerospace company to comply with the IER’s subpoena.
On the 11th of December, IER said that although SpaceX acknowledged the order. The aerospace company added that it “does not intend to produce any additional information in response to the administrative subpoena.”
According to the CNBC report, SpaceX is requesting an order that would force SpaceX to comply with the subpoena within two weeks as the aerospace company is yet to present all required documents. In contrast to SpaceX’s statement that it has no intention to respond to the administrative subpoena, IER said the documents are essential in the ongoing investigation.
The IER said that the subpoenaed documents are important as they would show the scope of the SpaceX hiring process. The IER is aiming to know the extent to which SpaceX hires non-us citizens to support the investigation.
The American aerospace company SpaceX has been making headlines with its recent achievements. In November, Coinspeaker reported that SpaceX became the first private company to successfully launch four astronauts in space for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
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