(The Center Square) – Entrepreneur Elon Musk shared his support for a congressional proposal to disempower a California governmental body that cited his support for President Donald Trump before voting to block an expansion of his rocket launches in the state.
The California Coastal Commission has notably been a major hindrance in recovery from natural disasters, such as the 2018 Woolsey Fire that devastated much of Malibu. While California Gov. Gavin Newsom has suspended some CCC oversight — which can delay projects for years — for like-for-like rebuilds in Los Angeles County, the panel still maintains a stranglehold over rebuilding and maintenance across the state’s entire coastline.
The agency has a $48 million annual budget and can control what happens up to five miles inland and three miles out to sea. According to the CCC, this is a “1.5 million acre area stretching 1,100 miles along the state’s coastline from Oregon to Mexico.”
According to U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-California, the CCC has also obstructed critical forest management projects, like those that could have prevented the recent wildfires that destroyed communities across coastal Southern California.
“From blocking SpaceX rocket launches to obstructing fire prevention projects, the Commission has repeatedly threatened the safety of Californians and weakened our national defense, while needlessly undercutting innovation and economic progress,” Kiley said in an announcement for his new bill. “The need to rein in the Commission has become urgent as we face the challenge of rebuilding Los Angeles following the fires.”
While Musk did not respond with more than a “Yes!” his enthusiasm and growing weight among Republicans could swing the Republican-dominated Congress in favor of Kiley’s proposal.
President Trump has said federal wildfire recovery aid for California would come with conditions, including changes to the CCC, voter ID requirements and better water management.
Newsom has also come out against overreach from the CCC, acting to reign in its recent guidance.
“The order responds to Coastal Commission guidance that suggested rebuilds are subject to Coastal Act exemption provisions and procedures and reiterates that all permitting requirements under the California Coastal Act are suspended,” said Newsom’s office in a statement accompanying one of its CCC orders. “That legally erroneous guidance threatened to create confusion and delay in rebuilding efforts for impacted communities. The order further directs the Coastal Commission to stop issuing guidance or attempting to enforce permitting requirements that conflict with the Governor’s Executive order issued on Jan. 12, 2025.”
