NASA’s Indian-Origin DEI Chief Neela Rajendra Fired After Trump’s Executive Order

The US space agency NASA has removed Indian-origin Neela Rajendra from her post. This action has been taken under President Donald Trump's executive order which directs to close all diversity programs across the country and terminate such appointments with immediate effect.

NASA's Indian-Origin Chief Fired
In an attempt to save Neela Rajendra, NASA changed her title to 'Head of Office of Team Excellence and Employee Success'. However, her role remained the same. In March, NASA closed its diversity department, but Neela Rajendra was saved from this action at that time. A separate new department was created for her.

Farewell Email

A Farewell email has been sent by the Director of NASA's Jet Populsion Laboratory which reads, We are grateful to her for the mark she has left on the organization. We wish her well for the future."

NASA laid off nearly 900 DEI employees last year due to a budget crisis. Neela Rajendra was not fired at that time. But she was removed from the post in April after the Trump administration took a tough action on DEI.

Who is Neela Rajendra?
Neela Rajendra held leadership roles at NASA for many years and spearheaded campaigns such as 'Space Workforce 2030'. Its aim was to increase the participation of women and minorities in NASA.

What was Trump's order?
President Trump's executive order states that "diversity programs divide the United States along lines of race, color, and gender, waste taxpayer money, and encourage discrimination." Several other federal agencies have also completely discontinued such programs.