Trump’s anti-DEI executive orders could jeopardize safety of Nasa crews | Trump administration

Wave Executive orders Sources at the American Space Agency told the Guardian that the internal directives of the Donald Trump administration may put the safety of NASA crews in danger.

From top to bottom to the US Federal Manpower-through acquisitions-and the deficiency of resignation employees due space The sources said that the station (ISS) and the implementation of Trump’s ambitious vision to explore the moon and Mars.

“We will follow our clear destiny in the stars, and we will launch American astronauts to cultivate stars and stripes on Mars,” Trump said in his second opening speech last month.

Trump The ambitious goal of achieving a decline from the human Mars By the time when the office leaves – not to mention the return of astronauts safely to the moon for the first time since the Apollo era more than 50 years ago – NASA will require heavily dependent on contractors, which currently consumes about 85 % of its financing.

Among these contractors Elon Musk’s Spacex, who received billions of dollars in contracts. The sources said that the costs related to cost costs, as well as adhere to Trump’s executive orders, may publish the current employees. Last week, Trump Request for Musk Plan To return astronauts from the International Space Station, although NASA has already has a plan to do so.

“Safety is still a maximum priority for the agency,” NASA Sherrill Warner said. “We are constantly looking for our employees to ensure the coverage required to preserve our crews safe, while working to adhere to new executive orders and other directives from Trump administration as soon as possible. “

It is not clear that the number of NASA employees have resigned since the start of Trump’s term, but about 2 % of the federal workforce as a whole have already decided to take acquisitions, According to reports.

NASA’s Internal Safety Committee recently The agency advised to reconsider The timing and rhythm of the moon’s mission plans because it includes new designs for space allowances, moonboards, thermal shields and more that have not yet been tested on the trip.

“Frankly, there is a very little room for failure,” said Bill Bray, a member of the committee in the public comments during the meeting.

NASA, currently led by Janet Petro, her first director, worked quickly The diversity offices were shutter A few hours after Trump took office and began rubbing the agency level of terms related to diversity, fairness and integration after Trump’s executive order on this topic.

Warner said: “Our agency has complied with the requirements of the executive order and the direction of the US Personnel Management Memorandum issued on January 21,” Warner said.

The Guardian spoke with many current employees and detainees of the NASA spacecraft department, who is responsible for lighting human space, about the impact of Trump’s orders on morale and productive spirit there. Identities are not detected for fear of revenge.

Sources familiar with the NASA control controls in Houston, Texas, say that the safety concerns that have emerged as a result of the Biden era budget discounts have now increased with the attack of executive orders ranging from disinfection of diversity, stocks and inclusion (DEI) policies to delegate a return to the office.

One of NASA’s contractors said they were directed to “leaving any paper path” while implementing the work to remove signals to Dei and began to communicate with their colleagues through a safe private messenger. Participate in a memorandum dated January 22, which was partially read: “SQ’s direction in NASA, we have to clean signals from the following terms from our public sites by 5 pm Each time today. This is to drop everything and distinguish your day’s request.”

The memo included wide terms such as “environmental justice”, “indigenous population” and “anything that targets women (women in leadership, etc.).”

Another note from OPM on the evening of January 22nd Beware of “negative consequences” If employees do not report their colleagues who have seen an attempt to evade orders.

A NASA scientist said that they suffered from fear and confusion with the arrival of the notes, and asked about the safety of their colleagues. “Do you have the knowledge of pride at the door of his office?” They said they remember thinking.

The source, who was previously working in monitoring the mission, said: “It is not a good company that has been well kept to control the trips in exhaustion, and they performed low -time and do not respect their management,” said the source who was previously working in monitoring the mission.

The source said that the campaign on Dei “will affect the hyperactivity.” “Control of the task is already struggling by ratifying and keeping flying units, but this certainly makes things worse. With 24/7 OPS for ISS, I am concerned that they cannot take more attrition and keep the keys equipped on The clock.

At any time, there are only about 20 people who have been trained to perform each of the high skilled functions required to maintain ISS operating safely. Training can take years. Specifically, the source said that the teams responsible for communications, life support and internal thermal systems on the International Space Station said recently that it could not support more employees’ discounts and continue the operations of 24/7.

To obtain an example of a type of emergency flying units, on dealing with micro -stores and spacecraft, such as paint stains, press ISS every day. Several times a year, the effect is great enough that it can cause a security problem for astronauts. Sometimes, however Recently last yearSpace pioneers need to be paid and ready to evacuate – after procedures and directing the task control.

Statistics indicate that NASA is the lowest workplace diverse among the four agencies that focus on science-including the Ministry of Energy, NOAA and EPA. About 40 % of NASA’s technical workforce is 55 years old or older.

Last year’s report NASA’s Inspector General Office found that “NASA faces interconnected challenges, including the workforce of the growing civil service and an increasing shortage of qualified employees in technical fields.” Despite the expanded Dei efforts under Biden, the report found that “NASA has not made significant progress in increasing the representation of women and minorities.”

Greg Chamitov, a former NASA astronaut, who is now studying at the University of Texas A & M, said Trump’s actions to undermine de “were disastrous for our country.” “I am sure that everyone in NASA is concerned about the personal and long -term personal effects.”

“If there is anything, achieving Trump’s space goals will require more tendency to DEI, and not strip him.

Jackson said: “I went through times in my life as people assumed that I do not know what I am talking about because I am the only woman in the room,” Jackson said. “This is what these policies revolve around is to remind people of their unconscious biases. I just hope that somewhere will be recognized in all of this.

Jackson said: “At the heart of that, any good team has been built on the diversity of opinion,” Jackson said. “The presence of people from different wallpapers, and the appropriate skills for this job.”

Jackson said the main fast food is one of the most tragic failures in NASA over the past fifty years – the loss of a competitor’s space shuttle and Colombia – has been an exaggerated dependence on steadfast thinking. “Collective Thinking” – There is no willingness to listen to the differences in opinion – cited by NASA specifically in their official accident reviews.

Jackson said: “This is a dangerous place to be,” Jackson said.

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