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The campaign led by former U.S. President Donald Trump to dismantle diversity initiatives within federal agencies has extended to NASA, which has removed notable references from its website regarding its commitment to landing the first woman and the first person of color on the moon. This development reflects the administration’s broader stance against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.
Initially made five years ago, NASA’s Artemis program aimed to accomplish these groundbreaking milestones while also including the first non-American astronaut in the lunar landing. However, recent updates to the agency’s website signify a shift in messaging.
On March 14, a snapshot recorded by the Wayback Machine illustrated that the Artemis program’s webpage proudly announced the goal of landing “the first woman, first person of color, and first international partner astronaut on the Moon.” Yet, by March 16, this statement had been removed completely from the site.
Additionally, NASA took down a page promoting a graphic novel scheduled for release in 2023, which featured a fictional narrative centered on the first woman on the moon. This content was also archived by the Wayback Machine.
Despite these removals, some references to diversity remain intact. For instance, a 2023 article about the Artemis III mission still highlights the intention to land “the first woman and first person of color” on the lunar surface.
When questioned about the recent changes, a NASA spokesperson stated that they were made in alignment with Trump’s executive orders issued in January, which targeted DEI initiatives. The statement emphasized that NASA is realigning its communication to focus on the Artemis program’s core mission of returning astronauts to the moon while clarifying that these language modifications do not reflect any alterations in crew assignments.
This policy shift at NASA coincides with a broader trend among various companies and governmental organizations to retract DEI measures and eliminate language that promotes diversity. Trump has criticized such initiatives, labeling them as forms of discrimination over time.
Reports indicate that NASA was directed to shut down offices dedicated to DEI and accessibility issues in late January, illustrating the extent of the administration’s influence over the agency.
The Artemis program serves as a tribute to Artemis, the twin sister of Apollo, the Greek god after whom the original lunar missions were named. Historically, all 24 astronauts who have traveled to the moon have been white American men, with 12 of them walking on its surface. The last human footsteps on the lunar surface occurred in 1972, marking the conclusion of the Apollo missions with astronaut Eugene Cernan.
Although NASA initially aimed to execute the Artemis III mission by 2024, delays have pushed the timeline back to at least 2026. Looking ahead, Artemis II is scheduled to orbit the moon next year and will consist of a crew consisting of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, alongside Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
Source
www.cbc.ca