Judge allows transfer of wildlife refuge land to SpaceX

newsSep 22, 2026241,346

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. on Monday refused to block a land swap that would give SpaceX federal land in the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, clearing the way for the exchange to proceed while opponents continue litigation. The Fish and Wildlife Service approved the deal in June after an environmental assessment that concluded the swap would cause no significant impact and would represent a "net conservation benefit" and improved habitat connectivity. Under the agreement SpaceX would surrender 683 acres it owns in exchange for federal parcel(s) inside the 103,000-acre refuge, which spans four counties along the Texas border; maps show the refuge land would sit closer to SpaceX’s launchpad near the U.S.-Mexico border. Plaintiffs including the Center for Biological Diversity and tribal groups sought a preliminary injunction, but the judge said they presented "relatively weak" evidence that the exchange would worsen ecological or cultural harms during the lawsuit. Rodriguez also wrote that an injunction would force modifications to SpaceX’s development plans and impose hardship on the company’s ability to meet milestones and contractual obligations. The Center for Biological Diversity called the swap a "gift of public lands" and said it will continue to challenge the exchange legally despite the ruling. With the injunction denied, the agency may move forward with the parcel exchange while the underlying lawsuit continues in federal court.

Alt National Park Service

@altnps.bsky.social

A federal court has denied a request to halt the SpaceX land transfer. The Trump administration approved a deal giving SpaceX 715 acres of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge in exchange for 683 acres of SpaceX-owned land.

117617h ago

Alt National Park Service486

That means the transfer could move forward while the larger lawsuit continues. Transferring these protected public lands to SpaceX will further fragment critical wildlife habitat and threaten species including ocelots, shorebirds, and northern aplomado falcons.

Chris⚖️Justice168

Crime after crime. No Justice. Thx to Republicans

taemakar80

Wow, I really hate these people.

No Kings69

He doesn’t care about our national lands. He will give Elon whatever he asks for. It’s just a transaction to him.

sonoransage.bsky.social64

As a birder who had the chance to see incredible wildlife in TX refuges, I’m infuriated that one bloated man baby can just hand off our nation’s irreplaceable treasures to one of his pals. They aren’t his to destroy, and yet…

La Vieja Pilar 🕊️🏄🏽‍♀️🇪🇸🇫🇷🇲🇽🇺🇸38

Musk is spending ton$$$ on Paxton. Wonder why?

Quoting this

The Desert Veteran12

Once again the Ultra Rich, this time it's Elon Musk, get to do whatever they want to do without anyone stopping them. This needs to STOP‼️ Now Musk will be able to destroy public land & disrupt wildlife for GREED.

Allyship6

Texas needs to get Albanian and wake up.

✦✧✦ 𝕁. 𝔽𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕚𝕤 𝔽𝕣𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 ✧✦✧5

Y'all remember when Musk-supporting dipshits were adamant that he was working towards a greener future with his electric cars? When even sanctimonious public "intellectuals" like Niel deGrasse Tyson were defending him for that reason? Yeah.

Debra3

TEXANS, ARE YOU PISSED YET?!?!?

🏳️‍🌈Alice🌒🌕🌘King 🏳️‍🌈2

This is complete bullshit! This is our land NOT dementia Donnie’s or Musks 🤬

Luke Ontario

@coolhand.bsky.social

Allowing temporary transfer of an ocelot refuge to a rocket company is an excellent example of how our judicial system plays into “too fucking late”

10418h ago

Luke Ontario24

Like oh don’t worry, we will give it back to the ocelots if you decide against us 🔥 💀

Oggie3

Those poor kitties. Dead kitties, by now

connie2

fucking heLL remember eloN’s last major explosion was an environmental and wildlife disaster i am 🤬👺

Lexi "Pro-Democracy" 💙

@lexi6toes.bsky.social

Judge won't block Trump administration from giving SpaceX acres of wildlife refuge in land swap 🤬 TEXAS VOTE BLUE while you still have some land left! #VoteBlue #Texas #pinks #Blues @ginafortexas.bsky.social @jamestalarico.bsky.social @texasdemocrats.bsky.social apnews.com/article/spac...

147h ago

Veronica 🇺🇸 🇮🇹 🇺🇦 🇳🇴 🇲🇽 🇩🇪 🇨🇦 🍁 🇸🇪 🇵🇷

@vero1986.bsky.social

Judge won’t block Trump administration from giving SpaceX acres of wildlife refuge in land swap. U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. declined to block a land swap that allows SpaceX to acquire more than 700 acres of a federal wildlife refuge. www.yahoo.com/news/us/arti...

1310h ago

Sam Stribling1

And the hits just keep coming.

Kevin☮️🌎☀️🌕⭐️🌈🌊1

Are they going to move all of the wildlife currently inhabiting the refuge to the new "land"? I think not.

Randy Fair

@southerngayteacher.bsky.social

“The swap amounts to a gift of public lands to SpaceX, ‘clearing the way for bulldozers to tear into this wildlife refuge as soon as next week and turn a public treasure into a private payday.’” - Laiken Jordahl, spokesperson - the Center for Biological Diversity www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

1212h ago

sundowner01.bsky.social4

No - they cannot give our public lands - this is horrendous. Unfortunately it will get worse until we can get these jerks out of office. They will stretch us to the limit.

Freedom fighter😢❤️😢2

Tell Musk to take it to Mars...

Quoting this

jeanie31199.bsky.social2

What do they need to do to PROVE it. Show the dead carcasses? Write it in their blood?

John Robinson

@jrobin.bsky.social

A Trump-appointed judge approves the swap of land between a Trump-appointed billionaire and Trump-led government. Yep, it sounds on the up-and-up. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/21/c...

52h ago

The Denver Post

@denverpost.com

A federal judge on Monday refused to block the Trump administration from giving SpaceX more than 700 acres of wildlife refuge as part of a land swap in Texas, while environmental groups vowed to continue their legal challenge.

72h ago

Terri Langford

@tlangford.bsky.social

Exchange of land between SpaceX and federal refuge in Texas OK’d despite conservationists’ objections www.texastribune.org/2026/09/21/t...

314h ago

Climate, Ecology, War & More: Dr. Glen Barry BigEarthData.ai

@bigearthdata.ai

US judge declines to block transfer of wildlife refuge land to Musk's SpaceX ->The Guardian | More on "SpaceX land swap wildlife refuge" at BigEarthData.ai | #MuskRat #WildlifeRefuge #SpaceX #Land

69h ago

barbie68.bsky.social

@barbie68.bsky.social

Judge Allows Transfer of Land in Wildlife Refuge to SpaceX, for Now - The New York Times

115h ago

Ora Tor

@splitrailfence.bsky.social

Trump appointee U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. doesn't seem to understand the meaning of wildlife refuge. He says plaintiffs "failed to prove it would worsen ecological risks to a Gulf Coast region" that's home to animal habitats and historical landmarks. www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/t...

12h ago

acdc25.bsky.social

@acdc25.bsky.social

US District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. declined the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction to prevent the parcel exchange, saying they failed to prove it would worsen ecological risks to a Gulf Coast region already transformed by Elon Musk’s rocket operation apnews.com/article/spac...

17h ago

News 📰

@some-news.bsky.social

Environmental groups vow to continue opposition to deal that would expand site for Elon Musk rocket company

111h ago

Epremo

@epremo.bsky.social

Judge allows "land swap" Space X property with Rio Grand wildlife refuge (See article 3 mos ago) and a federal judge on 9/21 denied an injunction (sought by Tx Fish & Wildlife) www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

111h ago

Tinfoil Sam

@tinfoilsam.bsky.social

Elon Musk's SpaceX is expanding its footprint in Texas, while environmental groups fight back. This is the same Musk who attacked invasive information-gathering powers, yet his company is taking over a wildlife refuge. SpaceX gets a free pass, while the people suffer. #SpaceX

111h ago

3 sources

nytimes.comJudge Allows Transfer of Land in Wildlife Refuge to SpaceX, for Now (Gift Article)theguardian.comUS judge declines to block transfer of wildlife refuge land to Musk’s SpaceX apnews.comJudge won't block Trump administration from giving SpaceX acres of wildlife refuge in land swap

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Judge allows transfer of wildlife refuge land to SpaceX

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