NASA staff have slammed the space agency for what they have described as a ‘DEI takeover’ that is compromising the ‘real work’ done by scientists.
One former employee said that NASA’s focus on diversity, equality and inclusion is ‘destroying America’s ability to compete with China in space because the Biden-Harris administration will only fund programs that feature it.’
Several disgruntled members, speaking on condition of anonymity, blamed ‘middle managers’ for the ‘bulls*** DEI policies.’
‘The DEI thing can create an environment where things are not focused and accountability gets diluted,’ another NASA employee, who still works at the agency, said.
‘Real scientists don’t give a hoot about DEI or other hyper-political c***.
‘There are good scientists doing real, good work there. [NASA] has become extremely bureaucratic.’
NASA is spending $22.4 million per year on programs that involve inclusive hiring, employee resource groups and environmental justice research.
DailyMail.com uncovered millions of taxpayer dollars were spent on DEI data analytics and to help the agency ’embark on a venture to incorporate and deeply engrain diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility in the culture and business.’
NASA staff are blaming ‘middle managers’ for the agency’s push into DEI programs, saying they are to blame for NASA’s downfall
NASA receives, on average, about 0.4 percent of what the US government spends each year, but is still given a budget of at least $20 billion.
While the space agency has dished out millions for DEI, its data showed it generated more than $75.6 billion in economic output across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., in fiscal year 2023.
NASA has engaged in DEI efforts for over a decade, first creating the Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Implementation Plan in 2012.
In its ‘Strategic Plan for DEIA, for fiscal years 2022 to 2026’ it lays out four main goals: workforce diversity; workforce equity and inclusion (employee experience); accessibility and accommodation; and DEIA integration into the NASA mission.
DailyMail.com has contacted NASA for comment.
NASA’s DEI spending from 2022 to present has largely focused on environmental programs.
More than $1 million in grants went to ‘assessing environmental justice in air quality, ‘advancing environmental justice in Los Angeles and ‘examining environmental justice through open source cloud native tools.’
One grant, surpassing $150,00, was given to Cleveland State University to improve monitoring and management of urban tree equity.
NASA has requested $22 million each year that would go specifically to DEI programs
Oregon State University was awarded a commitment of more than $450,000 to study refugee farming decisions in Uganda.
The grant’s description showed that the results of the project will ‘directly support place-based information of refugee self-sufficiency that is called for in Uganda’s refugee response plan.’
It’s unclear how the findings would advance NASA’s aims.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of dollars were given to the Oceanography Society for ‘building diversity, equity and inclusion in ocean sciences.’
LMI consulting received over $2 million in 2023 for NASA to ’embark on a venture to incorporate and deeply engrain diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility in the culture and business.’
Another $3 million went to Booze Allen Hamilton in March to support NASA’s ‘Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity DEI data analytic specialty,’ and $7 million was announced last month for six ‘minority-serving institutions.’
‘What I do see is that budgets are tight (and so timing and planning takes a hit in our case),’ the NASA employee said.
‘We have a difficult project in a very small window. Further, I’m aware that they have gone through at least two rounds of layoffs this year. I can tell they are very constrained and not running optimally.
Amid these expenditures, staff have voiced concerns online about budget shortages, citing struggles with ‘limited funds’ due to ‘wasteful spending.’
‘I worked for NASA and I have friends that still do. NASA has become an inefficient government bureaucracy. It’s sad but there’s no use denying it,’ a former employee shared on X.
William F Cook posted: ‘I grew up in Clear Lake and my mother worked in the space program for 35 years. Even *she* recognizes that NASA has lost its way and seems to be more focused on DEI and community outreach than actually going into space.’
A report from the Congressional Budget Office, released in July, showed that NASA had nine programs in 2023 that were approved by the government for more than $25 million.
However, the time period for those authorizations has expired, yet Congress is still giving NASA money for them.
The space agency had another nine a year later valued at over $24 million.
‘If the spending isn’t authorized, then we shouldn’t be spending it,’ Ramaswamy posted on X last Thursday. ‘That shouldn’t be controversial.’
