Who is Neela Rajendra, the Indian-origin NASA official fired by Donald Trump order? 

NASA attempted to retain her by reassigning her to a newly created role

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NASA's JPL attempted to retain her by reassigning her to a newly created role of Chief of the Office of Team Excellence and Employee Success.
NASA's JPL attempted to retain her by reassigning her to a newly created role of Chief of the Office of Team Excellence and Employee Success.
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Neela Rajendra, Chief of the Office of Team Excellence and Employee Success at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), has been removed from her position in the organisation.

Her removal comes after Donald Trump administration's executive order aimed at eliminating DEI initiatives across federal agencies, according to media reports. 

As the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer, Neela Rajendra had been a central figure in NASA's DEI efforts, advocating for inclusive hiring practices and workplace equity. However, in 2024, the Trump administration issued an executive order dismantling DEI programs in federal agencies, arguing that such initiatives promoted bias rather than merit-based hiring. 

JPL attempted to retain her by reassigning her to a newly created role of Chief of the Office of Team Excellence and Employee Success. This new title removed direct references to DEI while allowing her to continue similar responsibilities. 

Despite these efforts, Rajendra was officially dismissed last week, multiple agencies reported.

No longer with JPL

JPL Director Laurie Leshin confirmed her departure, stating, "Neela Rajendra is no longer working at [Jet Propulsion Laboratory]. We are incredibly grateful for the lasting impact she made on our organization. We wish her the very best." 

Reports indicate her removal is part of a broader restructuring at NASA, which saw nearly 900 employees laid off in 2024. Elimination of JPL’s diversity office was a key component of these changes, they add. 

Neela Rajendra is considered to be a vocal advocate for workplace inclusivity and reportedly played a key role in advancing NASA’s Space Workforce 2030 pledge, which aimed to increase the hiring of women and underrepresented groups. She also led JPL’s Black Excellence Strategic Team until recently.

Before joining NASA, Rajendra held leadership roles in corporate diversity programs and was known for her expertise in organizational development. Her LinkedIn profile shows she studied Political Science in University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and took her MBA from Wake Forest University School of Business. 

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