Neela Rajendra’s exit marks a sweeping rollback of diversity roles across U.S. federal agencies following President Trump’s crackdown on DEI programs
Indian-origin diversity leader Neela Rajendra has been officially let go from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) as part of a wider federal purge of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) roles under a new executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
An internal email sent by JPL Director Laurie Leshin last week confirmed Rajendra’s sudden departure, stating: “Neela Rajendra is no longer working at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. We are incredibly grateful for the lasting impact she made to our organisation. We wish her the very best.”
Rajendra, who had been a prominent advocate for inclusive hiring practices, was known for leading NASA’s “Space Workforce 2030” pledge, a high-profile initiative designed to increase the representation of women and minority communities across the space sector.
Neela Rajendra’s dismissal highlights the Trump administration’s decisive move against federal diversity roles, reshaping NASA and other U.S. agencies
Her exit reflects a larger trend sweeping through U.S. federal departments, as hundreds of DEI-related roles have been eliminated in the wake of President Trump’s directive.
The executive order, which critics have branded as controversial, claims DEI programs promote division, waste public resources, and foster reverse discrimination.
NASA has since joined a growing list of agencies dismantling their diversity offices entirely.
Rajendra’s removal, while abrupt, underscores the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to reshape government policy on workplace diversity and inclusion, sparking debate nationwide about the future of such initiatives.
