We are less than a week into the second Trump administration and the new president is already sending shockwaves through NASA. In two internal memos sent through the space agency, Trump has targeted NASA's various diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs. These internal memos, signed by Janet Petro, acting agency Administrator and Director of the Kennedy Space Center, read as follows:

Memo One

Dear agency employees,

We are taking steps to close all agency DEIA offices and end all DEIA-related contracts in accordance with President Trump's executive orders titled Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Prefrencing and Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions.

These programs divided Americans by race, wasted taxpayer dollars, and resulted in shameful discrimination.

We are aware of efforts by some in government to disguise these programs by using coded or imprecise language. If you are aware of a change in any contract description or personnel position description since November 5, 2024 to obscure the connection between the contract and DEIA or similar ideologies, please report all facts and circumstances to DEIAtruth@opm.gov within 10 days.

There will be no adverse consequences for timely reporting this information. However, failure to report this information within 10 days may result in adverse consequences.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Janet Petro

Memo Two

MEMORANDUM FOR NASA CONTRACTOR AND GRANTEE COMMUNITY

SUBJECT: Initial Guidance Regarding Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility (DEIA) Executive Orders

On January 20, 2025, the President of the United States of America signed an Executive Order (E.O.) titled, "Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions", which repeals Executive Order 14035, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce". The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a memorandum, dated January 21, 2025, titled, "Initial Guidance Regarding DEIA Executive Orders" to federal agencies.

To implement the E.O. requirements, OPM directed federal agencies to take immediate action to identify and terminate DEIA initiatives and programs and remove final or pending documents, directives, orders, materials, and equity plans issued in response to the now- repealed Executive Order 14035, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) in the Federal Workforce (June 25, 2021). To date, the following directions are provided:

Contracts and Grants. NASA Contractors and Grantees immediately shall cease and desist all DEIA activities required of their contracts or grants. In accordance with FAR 52.242-15, Stop Work clause, a stop work order may have been issued to stop all or any part of the DEIA related activity. Additionally, FAR 52.249, Terminations clause modifications may also be issued to implement this change. This work may include but is not limited to: DEIA plan requirement, training, reporting, considerations for staffing, or any other direct or indirect contract or grant activity. All Contractors and Grantees shall notify their Contracting Officer or Grant Officer if they identify requirements within their contracts or grants that are in violation this guidance.

Guidance. Consistent with the DEIA E.O. and the Regulatory Freeze Pending Review E.Q, additional guidance will be issued to further implement the executive order requirements, such as updating and removing DEIA related policy guidance in the NASA FAR Supplement, Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual, Grant and Cooperative Agreement Procedures, and the Grant and Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions.

Websites, social media, accounts, etc. NASA Office of Procurement has removed external and internal facing contract and grant websites that include DEIA related policies and documents, and these website were taken offline as of Spm January 22, per OPM guidance.

NASA's diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs were focused on talent cultivation to ensure the space agency had a wide range of talent available to hire from nationwide. Removing these programs will decrease the quantity and quality of new employees available to the agency.

With the memo's encouraging agency employees to report one another, as well as contractors, NASA could unintentionally immobilize itself once bogus investigations are opened into key figures within the space agency. This could quite quickly further delay Artemis missions or jeopardize the International Space Station program.

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility policy in the United States can trace its roots back to the civil rights movement of the 1960s and has prevented employers from discriminating against employees based on race, gender, sexuality, and disabilities.

Former NASA Administrator Bill Nelson spoke on the need for such policy, after appointing Stephen Shih and Elaine Ho to the agency's Office of Diversity, saying:

“Now, more than ever, NASA is leading all of humanity on an unprecedented journey of discovery, exploration and innovation,” – “To be successful in our missions, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility must continue to be at the forefront. Steve and Elaine’s leadership will help NASA continue to ensure our workforce reflects all of America and to inspire partners throughout our nation – for the benefit of all humanity.”