NASA Ousts Indian-Origin DEI Chief Neela Rajendra Amid Trump Crackdown on Diversity Programs

Despite a title change aimed at retaining her, Neela Rajendra was removed from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab as part of compliance with President Trump’s executive order targeting DEI initiatives.

Washington D.C. | April 15, 2025
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has officially removed Neela Rajendra, the Indian-origin former Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer, after efforts to retain her through a rebranded role failed to bypass the Trump administration’s executive order banning DEI programs across federal agencies.

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In March, JPL had changed Rajendra’s designation to “Head of Employee Success”, removing DEI language while retaining many of her responsibilities. However, an internal memo from JPL Director Laurie Leshin last Thursday confirmed Rajendra was no longer part of the organization.

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“Neela Rajendra is no longer working at [the Jet Propulsion Laboratory],” the memo read. “We are incredibly grateful for the lasting impact she made to our organization.”

The newly formed Office of Team Excellence and Employee Success, which replaced the DEI office Rajendra once led, will now be housed under NASA’s Human Resources division.

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Interestingly, just a week prior, reports had indicated Rajendra was not among the 900 employees laid off in 2024 due to budget constraints. Her quiet removal follows increased scrutiny after the lab’s attempt to retain her by shifting her responsibilities under a new title failed to shield the role from executive enforcement.

Policy Shift Under Trump’s Order

President Donald Trump’s March 2025 executive order, titled “Restoring the Values of Individual Dignity, Hard Work, and Excellence”, mandated the removal of DEI-driven programs in all executive agencies, including NASA. The order stated that recruitment and promotion in public service “shall not be influenced by race, color, religion, sex, or national origin,” denouncing what it called “discriminatory equity ideology.”

This policy change also impacted other federal departments and educational institutions, including Harvard University, where the White House froze $2.2 billion in funding over campus activism.

Background & Public Debate

Rajendra had previously drawn attention in 2022 for her criticism of SpaceX, alleging its “fast-paced, high-pressure culture” lacked focus on inclusion, leading to higher turnover. Ironically, a SpaceX capsule was used to rescue two stranded NASA astronauts last year, reigniting debate over whether DEI programs at NASA had any measurable impact on safety or operational outcomes.

Rajendra’s work had included oversight of employee “affinity groups” such as the Black Excellence Strategic Team (BEST), which continued under her new title until her exit.

NASA’s official website has already scrubbed Rajendra’s profile. The page now displays a “404 Not Found” error.

So far, NASA has not issued an official public comment on her removal.

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