NASA scrubbed two graphic novels, including female astronauts on its website, which clearly aligns with the Trump administration's opposition.
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies are often those that usually promote fair treatment for people of all backgrounds. The Trump administration is not a fan of DEI, and on the first day of Trump's second term, the White House called the DEI program “illegal and immoral” and declared the administration “committed to serving everyone with equal dignity and respect.” To this end, it seems that NASA has removed graphic novels from its website about a fictional female astronaut named Callie Rodriguez.
As Keith Cowing of NASA Watch reported, graphic novels have been online for years. (“Obviously, NASA Dei Sanitation Squad is using my post to help them delete things.”: NASA’s Commitment to Humanity” and “The First Woman: Expanding Our Universe.”
The Space Agency left behind a release announcing the graphic novel and an updated version of the series, but the main landing page (fictional) story is the (fictional) first woman walking on the moon, now producing 404 errors. NASA's press secretary Bethany Stevens did not respond to a request for comment.
In January, NASA moved to the end of the diversity program, and last month the agency notified employees that they no longer could display pronouns in their online profiles, from email signatures to their Microsoft Outlook accounts.
This week alone is turmoil for NASA, which terminated a $420 million contract, according to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Under Elon Musk, it remains to be seen that all efforts will change the operations of the country's space agency.
