NASA's Indian-Origin DEI Chief Dismissed Following Trump’s Executive Order

A senior diversity official at NASA has been dismissed despite the agency's efforts to shield her from President Trump's executive order that dismantled federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

Neela Rajendra, the former Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), was recently let go from her new role as head of the "Office of Team Excellence and Employee Success," according to a report by the Washington Free Beacon.

"Neela Rajendra is no longer working at [Jet Propulsion Laboratory]. We are incredibly grateful for the lasting impact she made to our organization. We wish her the very best," JPL Director Laurie Leshin wrote in a staff-wide email, which was later obtained by the New York Post.

Rajendra’s dismissal follows a Free Beacon report detailing how she had managed to maintain her position after NASA's DEI cuts in 2024, when nearly 900 DEI-related positions across the agency were eliminated.

Despite President Trump's directive to dismantle DEI programs in federal agencies, NASA closed its diversity office in March. However, the agency reportedly created a new position for Rajendra under a different title, allowing her to retain much of her previous responsibilities.

On March 10, an internal memo announced that Rajendra would lead the newly established "Office of Team Excellence and Employee Success," which oversaw employee affinity groups, including the "Black Excellence Strategic Team."

Rajendra’s LinkedIn profile described her role in the new office as one focused on "unlocking our potential to Dare Mighty Things TOGETHER."

At the time of the office's launch, Leshin emphasized to staff that the change was "essential for [JPL's] future success" and a perfect fit for Rajendra’s expertise.

Rajendra had been a strong advocate for NASA's diversity efforts, including her involvement in the "Space Workforce 2030" pledge, which aimed to increase the representation of women and minorities in the aerospace sector. In a 2022 presentation, she noted that "extreme deadlines" presented challenges to achieving inclusion goals, according to the Beacon.