Neela Rajendra
NASA has terminated Neela Rajendra, the former head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), following a recent executive order from U.S. President Donald Trump.
The order mandates the elimination of DEI roles and programs across all federal agencies, with the administration arguing that such initiatives are divisive and misuse taxpayer funds.
Rajendra, of Indian descent, had overseen DEI efforts at NASA for several years, including leading the “Space Workforce 2030” initiative, which aimed to boost the representation of women and minorities in the space industry.
After the order was issued, NASA attempted to retain Rajendra by renaming her position to “Head of the Office of Team Excellence and Employee Success,” maintaining her original responsibilities, such as collaborating with groups like the Black Excellence Strategic Team. A new department was even established to support this rebranded role.
However, stricter enforcement of the order in early April led to Rajendra’s official departure. JPL Director Laurie Leshin confirmed her exit in an internal email, as reported by NDTV citing the Daily Mail, stating: “Neela Rajendra is no longer working at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. We are incredibly grateful for the lasting impact she made to our organization. We wish her the very best.”
Rajendra had survived earlier layoffs in 2024, when approximately 900 positions were cut due to budget constraints, and remained in her restructured role even after NASA disbanded its DEI office in March 2025—until the latest policy enforcement.
Her departure aligns NASA with other federal agencies that have dismantled DEI positions under the Trump administration’s new directive.
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