NASA has officially terminated its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, leading to the dismissal of Neela Rajendra, the agency’s Indian-origin DEI chief.
The move follows President Donald Trump’s executive order, which mandates the elimination of DEI initiatives across federal agencies.
Neela Rajendra, who previously served as Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), was let go despite earlier efforts to retain her under a rebranded role.
Background on NASA’s DEI Program Shutdown
In March 2025, NASA formally closed its diversity office, aligning with Trump’s directive to dismantle DEI programs across the executive branch.
The agency had initially attempted to shield Neela by creating a new role—the Office of Team Excellence and Employee Success—allowing her to retain much of her previous responsibilities.
However, following public scrutiny and internal reviews, NASA ultimately terminated her position, marking the end of its DEI initiatives.
The agency justified the move by stating that DEI programs had divided Americans by race, wasted taxpayer dollars, and resulted in discrimination.
Neela Rajendra’s Role and Contributions at NASA
Neela was a key advocate for diversity initiatives at NASA, playing a pivotal role in the Space Workforce 2030 pledge, which aimed to increase representation of women and minorities in aerospace.
She had previously argued that extreme deadlines hindered inclusion efforts, emphasizing the need for structured diversity programs.
Her dismissal follows reports that she had survived the initial wave of DEI-related layoffs in 2024, when 900 DEI employees across NASA lost their jobs.
Despite efforts to retain her under a different title, the agency ultimately removed her from her position.
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