Elon Musk‘s SpaceX on Tuesday slammed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) administrator Mike Whitaker for his comments defending delays in greenlighting the next launch of its Starship launch vehicle.

Mike Whitaker, the administrator of the FAA, told lawmakers on the House Transportation Committee that his decision to delay SpaceX's launch for a few months is grounded in safety, and defended the $633,000 fine his agency has proposed against SpaceX as the “only tool” the FAA has to ensure that Musk's company follows the rules.

Elon Musk's SpaceX must operate at the "highest level of safety," the head of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said on Tuesday, defending a proposed $633,000 fine against the company for violating agency rules ahead of two 2023 launches.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a $633,000 fine against SpaceX for violating safety regulations during two launches in 2023. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker stated that SpaceX operated without necessary permits and failed to comply with federal safety guidelines.

A day after harsh criticism from Congress and industry, the FAA defended its approach to launch licensing and, specifically, its work with SpaceX.