A federal judge has declined to block the Trump administration from allowing SpaceX to acquire over 700 acres of land from a Texas wildlife refuge as part of a land swap. U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. rejected a request from environmental and tribal groups for a temporary court order to halt the exchange, stating that the plaintiffs did not provide enough evidence to show the swap would significantly harm the environment in the Gulf Coast region, which has already been impacted by SpaceX's rocket operations. The land swap involves SpaceX giving up 683 acres of land it owns in exchange for federal land within the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. This 103,000-acre refuge spans four counties along the Texas-Mexico border and includes habitats for wildlife and historical sites. The land SpaceX would gain is near its rocket launch site, which has raised concerns about the potential impact on the surrounding area. Environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, have criticized the swap, calling it a transfer of public land to a private company. They argue that the land is of immense ecological and cultural value and should not be converted for private development. Laiken Jordahl, a spokesperson for the Center for Biological Diversity, said the group will continue to fight the exchange despite the court's decision. "We won't stop fighting to keep this irreplaceable public wildlife refuge safe from SpaceX bulldozers," Jordahl said. The lawsuit aims to stop the land swap, which opponents say could worsen issues like reduced beach access and the risks of rocket explosions. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which approved the swap, previously stated that it does not comment on ongoing litigation. The agency released an environmental assessment in June that concluded the swap would not significantly harm the area and would provide long-term conservation benefits. Judge Rodriguez noted that the plaintiffs provided "relatively weak" evidence of environmental harm. He also stated that a preliminary injunction would disrupt SpaceX’s development plans, potentially affecting its ability to meet project deadlines. SpaceX has not commented on the ruling, but the company has been expanding its operations in Texas for over a decade, even forming its own local government called Starbase last year.