A small step in Donald Trump’s plan could be a big step backward for humanity. NASA has quietly removed its pledge to send the first woman and the first person of color to the Moon from its website. The change comes in response to Trump’s recent executive order eliminating diversity initiatives.
Between 1969 and 1972, 12 astronauts walked on the Moon during six Apollo missions—all of them white men. The promise to change this was a key pillar of NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface in 2027. However, that commitment has now been erased—at least in writing.
NASA spokesperson Allard Beutel confirmed the change to The Guardian, stating, “In accordance with the president’s executive order, we are updating our language regarding plans to send crew members to the lunar surface as part of NASA’s Artemis campaign. We look forward to learning more about the Trump administration’s plans for our agency and expanding exploration on the Moon and Mars for the benefit of all.”
Mission Crews Remain Unchanged—For Now
The recent policy shift does not affect the already confirmed Artemis crew members. Artemis I, an uncrewed test mission, launched in 2022. Artemis II, set to launch no earlier than April 2026, will include astronaut Christina Koch, a woman, and Victor Glover, a Black astronaut. This mission will orbit the Moon but not land.
Artemis III, planned for mid-2027, is expected to land on the lunar surface, but its crew has not yet been announced. To date, 24 white men have either orbited or walked on the Moon, while no woman or person of color has done so.
Ironically, it was Trump’s first administration that created the Artemis program, originally pledging to land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon. The program’s name itself was symbolic—Artemis, in Greek mythology, was the twin sister of Apollo, the namesake of NASA’s first lunar missions. This choice reflected an effort to promote diversity within the space agency.
Trump’s New Order and NASA’s Changing Priorities
However, much has changed in the years since. On his first day back in office, Trump signed an executive order dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. The new rule threatens financial penalties and contract terminations for companies that maintain what the administration deems “illegal” DEI programs.
In response, NASA has already removed other diversity-related content from its website, including a page highlighting the 1978 astronaut class—the first to include women and people of color.
Meanwhile, NASA is under scrutiny by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by tech billionaire Elon Musk. Musk, who also owns SpaceX—a major NASA contractor—is spearheading budget cuts that could impact costly Moon missions. Trump’s pick to lead NASA, billionaire Jared Isaacman, is both a close friend and client of Musk, further complicating the agency’s future direction.
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