As per a report, NASA did try to shield Neela Rajendra (Pictured) from facing the axe, by creating a new role for her. However, the move ultimately fell short. (Image: NASA)
NASA has axed its Indian-origin DEI officer Neela Rajendra, once a key figure driving diversity efforts at its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), amid a nationwide purge led by President Donald Trump. According to a report, Rajendra, who served as Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at JPL, was recently let go from a newly created position titled Chief of the “Office of Team Excellence and Employee Success”. The change in title, the report suggests, was intended to preserve her role after NASA formally disbanded its diversity division in March.
According to a report by the Washington Free Beacon, in a message circulated to staff, JPL Director Laurie Leshin wrote, “Neela Rajendra is no longer working at [Jet Propulsion Laboratory]. We are incredibly grateful for the lasting impact she made to our organisation. We wish her the very best.”
Rajendra’s termination follows a wave of DEI-related job cuts in 2024, when NASA reportedly removed nearly 900 employees aligned with its now-defunct diversity program.
Despite the dissolution of the DEI office, Rajendra was reassigned to lead a newly framed unit that continued similar responsibilities. An internal announcement on March 10 stated she would oversee the new office, which would manage internal “affinity groups” including the “Black Excellence Strategic Team”, as per the Free Beacon.
On LinkedIn, Rajendra described her position as one focused on “unlocking our potential to Dare Mighty things TOGETHER”.
Back when the transition was made, Leshin wrote in another staff-wide email, “I believe this change is essential for [Jet Propulsion Lab’s] future success and aligns well with Neela’s strengths and focus over the last year.”
Rajendra was instrumental in advancing inclusive hiring at NASA, notably advocating for the “Space Workforce 2030” pledge, which aimed to increase representation of women and minorities. In a past presentation, she stated that “extreme deadline[s]” often hampered progress on “inclusion” efforts.
NASA has not issued a public response to the report.
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