Following a White House executive order, NASA is dismantling its diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) programs. In a January 22 memo to employees, Acting Administrator Janet Petro announced the closure of related offices and cancellation of contracts. "These programs divided Americans by race, wasted taxpayer dollars, and resulted in shameful discrimination,” she wrote.
The actions are in direct response to President Trump's executive order, issued shortly after his inauguration, which deemed such programs “discriminatory” and a “waste.” A subsequent memo from Charles Ezell, acting director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), mandated the removal of DEIA-related media and placed DEIA office employees on paid administrative leave. Agencies were also required to submit lists of personnel and contracts by January 23, and layoff plans by month's end.
The website for NASA’s Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity was subsequently unavailable, with some NASA field centers reporting similar issues. However, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's DEIA website remained active. The OPM provided a template for notifying employees, mirroring Petro's memo, which warned of "adverse consequences" for failing to report changes to contract or personnel descriptions since the November election that might "disguise" DEIA links.
This move contrasts sharply with Petro’s previous statements. In a November 2021 interview, she emphasized the importance of diversity efforts: “At NASA and Kennedy Space Center, our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility has been paramount to mission success. The entire NASA leadership team stands behind this commitment,” she said. She further stressed the need for “intentional” hiring and recruiting to ensure diverse talent pools.