Former SpaceX manager alleges harassment, retaliation, and security violations in lawsuit

A former security manager at SpaceX has launched a lawsuit against the aerospace company and a senior official, alleging serious claims of discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation. Jenna Shumway, who ascended to the role of senior contractor program security officer shortly after joining the company in 2022, has accused Daniel Collins—a former Defense Department official responsible for security compliance—of violating top-secret protocols and failing to disclose these breaches to government authorities. Collins, who came into the spotlight in December 2024 when The New York Times reported on a federal review of SpaceX’s lax security measures, is alleged to have discouraged the reporting of security clearance violations. He reportedly allowed executives without proper clearances to attend classified meetings, prompting at least three federal investigations into the company’s security practices. According to Shumway’s lawsuit, she was overlooked for a director position that Collins eventually obtained without her being given a chance to apply. Her work environment drastically shifted with Collins as her superior, as detailed in her complaint. Shumway claims Collins initiated a harassment campaign against her, which involved gradually stripping her of her responsibilities and ultimately leading to her firing in October 2024. The allegations extend to Collins' treatment of other female employees as well, including accusations of preventing them from completing mandatory security tasks and creating a hostile work environment. Specific incidents cited in the lawsuit include inappropriate comments and behavior towards female staff members, such as staring at an employee’s chest during meetings and making suggestive remarks about social outings. Despite repeated reports to SpaceX's human resources department regarding Collins’ behavior, the lawsuit alleges that no meaningful action was taken, with HR merely advising employees to avoid being alone with him. Shumway is pursuing unspecified damages through her lawsuit, which highlights ongoing concerns about gender discrimination and harassment within the company. SpaceX is also facing investigations from the California Civil Rights Department and the National Labor Relations Board related to similar issues. The lawsuit, initially filed in May in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, was moved to federal court at SpaceX's request on June 30 and is currently being processed under case number 2:22-cv-05959 in the federal Central District of California.