NASA Removes Graphic Novels Featuring Female Astronauts from Website

NASA has removed two graphic novels featuring female astronauts from its website, a move that appears to be in line with the Trump administration’s stance against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. DEI policies aim to promote fair treatment of individuals from all backgrounds. However, the Trump administration has expressed opposition to these policies, labeling them "illegal and immoral" on the first day of Trump’s second term. The White House declared its commitment to serving every person with equal dignity and respect, and it seems that NASA has followed suit by removing the graphic novels.

The graphic novels, which had been available on the website for years, told the story of a fictional female astronaut named Callie Rodriguez. According to Keith Cowing of NASA Watch, the series titles were "First Woman: NASA’s Promise for Humanity" and "First Woman: Expanding Our Universe." The main! landing page dedicated to Rodriguez’s story as the first woman to walk on the Moon now yields a 404 error. NASA’s Press Secretary, Bethany Stevens, did not respond to a request for comment.

The removal of the graphic novels is not an isolated incident. In January, NASA moved to terminate diversity programs, following Trump’s orders. Last month, the agency informed its employees that they could no longer display pronouns in their online profiles, including email signatures and Microsoft Outlook accounts. This week has been particularly turbulent for NASA under the Trump administration, with the agency terminating $420 million in contracts, according to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The DOGE, led by Elon Musk, has been slashing headcount at the federal government since its creation by executive order on Trump’s first day in office. It remains to be seen how drastically DOGE will alter operations at the nation’s space agency.

The space agency has left up releases announcing editions of the graphic novels and updates to the series, but the removal of the main landing page has sparked concerns about the impact of the Trump administration’s policies on NASA’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. As the situation continues to unfold, it is clear that NASA is facing significant changes under the Trump administration, and the removal of the graphic novels is just one example of the broader shift in the agency’s priorities.