NASA Scrubs Diversity References and Employee Pronouns Following Trump’s Order

NASA has begun removing references to diversity, equity, and inclusion from its websites in compliance with directives from President Donald Trump’s administration. The changes include eliminating mentions of accessibility, indigenous people, women, and other topics deemed unnecessary by the government.

NASA Employees Ordered to Remove Terms

According to a memo obtained by 404 Media, NASA employees were instructed on 22 January to scrub specific terms from the agency’s websites by the end of the day. The memo, marked as a high-priority task, stated:

“This is a drop everything and reprioritize your day request.”

The list of banned terms included references to diversity, equity, inclusion, underrepresented groups, environmental justice, and “anything specifically targeting women (women in leadership, etc.),” 404 Media reported.

DEI Programs Shut Down Following Executive Order

Following Trump’s executive order to eliminate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) offices within federal agencies, NASA promptly ended its diversity programs and canceled related contracts.

In a memo issued the same day, NASA’s acting administrator Janet Petro justified the decision, stating:

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

NASA had been recognised as one of the top U.S. employers for diversity in 2023. A 2021 report by NASA’s Office of Inspector General noted that its workforce was approximately 35% women and 30% minorities. However, a 2024 follow-up report found little progress in increasing diversity in leadership positions despite multiple initiatives.

NASA Websites Undergoing Major Edits

Diversity-related content has already begun disappearing from NASA’s official sites. SpaceNews reported that a 2023 article highlighting NASA’s 1978 astronaut class—which included the first female, Black, and Asian-American astronauts—was deleted by 29 January, returning a “page not found” error.

Additionally, terms such as “inclusive” have been replaced with “fair,” while “inclusion” has been removed entirely from various web pages. NASA has also paused several astrophysics and planetary science committees as it reassesses their alignment with the now-defunct DEI programs.

NASA Removes Employee Pronouns Following Executive Order

In another policy shift, NASA employees can no longer display their pronouns in email signatures or Microsoft Teams profiles.

An agency-wide email, obtained by NPR, informed employees that the ability to add pronouns in Microsoft Outlook and Teams had been disabled:

“For users who have previously added pronouns to their display name, those pronouns will be automatically removed from the system this week.”

Additionally, NASA adopted a standardized email signature format prohibiting any “additional embellishment.” Civil servants, contractors, and grantees were instructed to update their signatures accordingly.

Part of a Larger Shift Away From DEI Policies

NASA’s policy reversal on pronouns contradicts its previous stance. In 2022, a now-deleted statement on its website affirmed employees’ right to be addressed by their correct names and pronouns. As reported by Space.com at the time, the statement read:

“All NASA employees currently have the option and flexibility to include their gender pronouns in their customized email signature blocks. This option remains unchanged and is supported by NASA leadership so that employees can share their gender identities and show allyship to the LGBTQIA+ community.”

That page, along with other diversity-related content, has since been removed as NASA continues implementing the administration’s new policies.