An official for the U.S. labor-relations agency has accused SpaceX of violating a federal workplace law by firing employees who circulated a letter criticizing founder Elon Musk. 

The former employees, along with around 400 other SpaceX workers, signed a letter in the summer of 2022 that called Musk’s public statements and behavior embarrassing and distracting. It asked SpaceX management to publicly separate the company from Musk’s personal brand.