Expansive　soils　pose　a　significant　challenge　in　geotechnical　engineering,　especially　in　coastal　areas.　While　research　has　mainly　focused　on　their　elastic　properties,　this　study　explores　the　overlooked　aspect　of　inelastic　subsidence　during　prolonged　droughts,　utilizing　decade-long　GPS　datasets　from　the　University　of　Houston　Coastal　Center.　Our　findings　reveal　substantial　subsidence,　approximately　one　to　two　dm,　during　the　summer　droughts　of　2018,　2020,　2022,　and　2023,　due　to　compaction　within　the　upper　4　m　of　expansive　soils.　Inelastic　subsidence　constitutes　roughly　10%　of　the　total　subsidence,　resulting　in　step-like　permanent　land　elevation　loss　over　time.　Notably,　drought-induced　subsidence　is　prominent　in　open-field　areas　with　expansive　soils　but　is　minor　in　built-up　areas　or　in　non-expansive　soil　regions.　The　occurrence　of　inelastic　subsidence　challenges　traditional　assessments　of　relative　sea-level　rise　and　coastal　flooding,　emphasizing　the　need　to　consider　it　in　coastal　infrastructure　planning　for　enhanced　resilience　against　climate　uncertainties.