They have had years to apply for the permits, no fast tracking was necessary, they just didn't feel like doing it.
In the way they have time to apply for licenses for an eventual Mars landing, yes. The practical timer started with IFT-4.
Link to the ESGHound source?
What does this even mean?
Sounds like a really unbiased source.
https://x.com/esghound/status/1511730625333665799
He's worthless as a source and not worth paying attention to.
Throw enough at the wall and something will stick.
I am not convinced he is correct in this case either, just that he's gotten the ear of a likeminded journalist.
If you read esghound's Twitter/threads he argues that the violations are so serious/done-in-bad-faith/contrary-to-submitted-paperwork that they would require a significant redo of the environmental impact permitting. In particular the FAA initially ruled that there was a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) and they did not require a (time-consuming) environmental impact statement (EIS). Esghound argues that they will legally need to complete an EIS which will take months. I wouldn't necessarily bet on that given how powerful Musk is.
I’m not sure why that is. Techno-optimism perhaps.
"Why did you not know the results of your tests and the outcome of your multi-year R&D project a decade ago!? Are you incompetent?" -- said by someone unable read a few dozen pages of text faster than 60 days.