NASA Faces Criticism Over DEI Spending Amid Budget Shortfalls and Layoffs
NASA is facing mounting criticism from its own staff and external experts for what they see as excessive spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs while the agency struggles with budget shortfalls and employee layoffs.
Reports covering the period from 2020 to 2024 reveal that NASA awarded millions of taxpayer dollars to universities and consulting firms for DEI-related initiatives. Among the recipients, LMI Consulting received over $2 million in 2023 for a project aimed at deeply embedding diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility into NASA’s culture. Additionally, $3 million was granted to Booz Allen Hamilton to support NASA’s “office of diversity and equal opportunity,” and $7 million was earmarked for minority-serving institutions.
While the agency continues to allocate funds for these initiatives, NASA employees have expressed frustration over the limited funds available for other key programs. Kyle Sorensen, a NASA software engineer, voiced his concern, calling on Elon Musk to intervene and “clean house” at NASA, especially regarding the perceived wastefulness of such spending.
Despite these issues, NASA’s economic impact remains strong. The agency generated more than $75.6 billion in economic output in fiscal year 2023 across the United States. However, layoffs have been reported at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where 325 employees were recently let go, adding to the 530 layoffs earlier in the year.
The shift toward prioritizing DEI began under the Biden administration, which emphasized these values across federal agencies. This shift was particularly notable after an executive order in 2021, which led to NASA incorporating diversity and equal employment opportunity measures into its supervisors’ performance plans.
Some critics argue that this focus on DEI could undermine NASA’s ability to compete with countries like China in space exploration. A former NASA employee expressed concern, claiming that such programs are detracting from critical space missions. Additionally, there is growing anxiety over the long-term impact of DEI-related spending on NASA’s planetary science budget, which has been reduced by over $1 billion in recent years.
A report from the Planetary Society warned that continued budget cuts could lead to a $5 to $11 billion shortfall in planetary science funding by 2032, potentially delaying missions to key destinations like Uranus, Enceladus, and Mars. This shortfall could also affect the Mars Sample Return mission.
In light of these concerns, former U.S. military space system commander Rudy Ridolfi suggested that while DEI spending is a small fraction of NASA’s total research budget, the agency should focus on minimizing waste, particularly given the cost overruns of the Artemis Program. The Artemis Program, intended to return humans to the Moon, has faced significant cost overruns, which have further strained NASA’s resources.
Experts, including John Conafay, a former NASA official, point to the agency’s reliance on cost-plus contracts, which allow contractors to renegotiate for additional funding, as a key factor contributing to NASA’s budget challenges.
As NASA grapples with these issues, critics argue that the agency must find a balance between promoting diversity and maintaining its focus on space exploration and scientific advancement. The debate over DEI spending is likely to continue as NASA faces pressure to streamline operations and allocate resources more efficiently.
