Neela Rajendra, the Indian-American chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) officer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has been let go after months of rumors and tension over the Trump administration’s position on DEI programs. The Daily Mail reported that Rajendra’s termination follows a time of internal strife over her role as part of widespread reductions to DEI programs throughout the federal government.

NASA’s Acknowledgement of Neela Rajendra’s Impact

Lab director Laurie Leshin also confirmed Rajendra’s exit in an all-staff email on Thursday. “Neela Rajendra is no longer working at [the Jet Propulsion Laboratory]. We are incredibly grateful for the lasting impact she made on our organization. We wish her the very best,” Leshin wrote.

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Rajendra’s termination has raised eyebrows, especially since her important role in NASA’s DEI initiatives. Although close to 900 workers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory lost their jobs in 2024 as a result of budget cuts, Rajendra’s job was still secure for months. This raised eyebrows among many in the organization, especially considering that the Trump administration has made attempts to cut or eliminate DEI programs throughout federal agencies.

Neela Rajendra’s Secret Role After DEI Cuts

In spite of the public pressure for DEI cuts, Rajendra still performed much of her work in a clandestine capacity. All mentions of DEI were deleted from her profile, and she took on a new position as “head of employee success.” In early March, she even headed the lab’s “Black Excellence Strategic Team,” further solidifying her power within the institution.

Trump Administration’s DEI Cuts and NASA’s Response

Rajendra’s dismissal takes place at the same time that the Trump administration continues to make efforts to disband DEI programs within government agencies. The previous president had signed a series of executive orders intended to curtail DEI initiatives, citing that such programs eroded merit-based hiring and disproportionately benefited specific groups.

Following these orders, NASA’s acting administrator, Janet Petro, notified employees in March that the Office of the Chief Scientist, the Office of Science, Policy, and Strategy, and the diversity office would close down. Through these adjustments, Rajendra’s DEI office was reorganized and is now under the human resources department.