NASA Asked to Scrub ‘Women in Leadership,’ Other ‘DEI’ Terms From Websites
Directive from the space agency’s headquarters asks personnel to remove mentions of terms including ‘diversity,’ ‘equity,’ and ‘anything specifically targeting women.’
Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro—the first woman to serve in the role—in January sent a memo announcing the closure of all diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility offices. [Courtesy: NASA/Cory Huston]
Key Takeaways:
NASA issued a directive ordering personnel to immediately remove numerous diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-related terms from its official websites and communications.
This mandate is in compliance with a Trump executive order, which has also led to the closure of DEIA offices and the suspension of related initiatives, such as the "Here to Observe" program.
The directive appears to conflict with NASA's stated commitment to diversity for mission success, its upcoming plan to land the first woman and person of color on the moon, and internal research suggesting potential benefits of increased female representation in spaceflight.
“Diversity,” “inclusion,” “environmental justice,” and “women in leadership” are just a few of the terms NASA personnel were told to scrub from agency websites following a directive from its headquarters sent on January 22.
Obtained by 404 Media, the memo asked NASA employees to remove the terms by the end of the day.
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
