A former SpaceX security official has taken legal action against the company, accusing it of fostering a workplace culture hostile to women and enabling critical lapses in national security procedures, Breitbart reported.
Jenna Shumway, once a senior contractor program security officer for SpaceX, filed a federal lawsuit alleging harassment, gender discrimination, retaliation, and severe security violations by a high-ranking employee and the company itself.
Shumway joined SpaceX in 2022 and was later promoted to a senior security role overseeing compliance for government contracts. The work environment, she says, changed dramatically in 2024 following the hire of Daniel Collins, a former Defense Department official brought in to lead security for sensitive programs. Shumway alleges that with Collins’ arrival in the spring of 2024, her responsibilities were slowly stripped away.
By October 2024, Shumway was terminated from her position. Her lawsuit, filed in late May 2025, claims that the mistreatment was both targeted and systemic, impacting not only her but other female colleagues as well. The court documents allege continued discrimination under Collins’ supervision, including actively preventing female staff from fulfilling their duties just to place them in technical non-compliance.
The lawsuit, initially brought before the Los Angeles County Superior Court, has since moved into federal jurisdiction. In its claims, Shumway details her repeated efforts to alert the SpaceX human resources department about Collins’ behavior, including what she describes as sexually inappropriate comments and unprofessional conduct. One incident cited in the filing involves Collins allegedly inviting a subordinate to “get s–tty together” over drinks.
Shumway also accuses Collins of staring at a colleague's chest during a meeting—a pattern that she says illustrates a broader culture of gender misconduct condoned at high levels within the company. Despite complaints made by Shumway and other employees, HR allegedly failed to take meaningful action, only suggesting staff avoid being alone with Collins.
Beyond allegations of discrimination, the lawsuit raises alarming national security concerns. It claims that Collins violated top-secret security protocols and hid these actions from relevant federal agencies. These reported breaches, according to the complaint, were not one-off occurrences but part of a broader pattern of neglect tied directly to executive decisions.
According to the lawsuit, Collins allowed individuals without the proper security clearances to attend meetings involving classified content. The court filing also alleges that he discouraged employees from reporting clearance violations, further exacerbating potential national security risks. These actions reportedly triggered three separate federal reviews of the company’s security operations by late 2024.
These issues became public in a December 2024 New York Times article, which noted SpaceX was under federal review for what was described as concerning lapses in security oversight. The article supported claims that Collins’ leadership style contributed to procedural failures across sensitive contracts involving the U.S. government.
Shumway’s case adds to existing legal pressures facing SpaceX. The California Civil Rights Department and the National Labor Relations Board are already investigating the company for similar claims of workplace hostility and gender-based discrimination. These probes suggest Shumway’s experience may reflect a larger systemic problem rather than an isolated complaint.
The legal filing argues that the company failed in its duty not only to provide a safe environment but also to protect national interests. Shumway maintains that her decision to come forward was based on a consistent pattern of retaliation and neglect at high levels within SpaceX. Her termination came soon after she began raising formal concerns about both conduct and compliance lapses.
The case could have far-reaching implications, particularly concerning how private aerospace contractors manage obligations under federal security agreements. With SpaceX playing a growing role in military and intelligence contracts, the claims may prompt increased oversight by federal agencies and defense partners.
As court proceedings unfold, attention will likely focus on whether the alleged behavior by Collins represents a breach of trust with national stakeholders. If substantiated, the consequences for SpaceX could extend well beyond employment law and into national defense partnerships. Any verified violations may affect its standing with U.S. government contractors and security agencies.
Neither SpaceX nor Collins has yet provided public comment in response to the lawsuit. It also remains unclear if the company will conduct its own internal probe separate from the ongoing federal reviews. Meanwhile, Shumway’s legal team is expected to push for depositions and document disclosures related to both HR actions and classified project management.
