NASA Terminates “Gender Ideology”

Keith’s note: This letter was issued by NASA HQ on 6 Feb 2025: “To implement the E.O. requirements, OPM directed federal agencies to take immediate action to identify and terminate programs that promote gender ideology¹ . Federal agencies must withdraw all final or pending documents, directives, orders, regulations, materials, forms, communications, statements, and plans that promote gender ideology. To date, the following directions are provided:” Full document below.

February 6, 2025

MEMORANDUM FOR NASA CONTRACTOR AND GRANTEE COMMUNITY

SUBJECT: Initial Guidance Regarding Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government Executive Order

On January 20, 2025, the President signed an Executive Order (E.O.) titled, “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government”. The OPM issued a memorandum, dated January 29, 2025, titled “Initial Guidance Regarding President Trump’s Executive Order Defending Women,” to federal agencies. This guidance directed agencies to take immediate action to end federal funding of gender ideology activities.

To implement the E.O. requirements, OPM directed federal agencies to take immediate action to identify and terminate programs that promote gender ideology¹ . Federal agencies must withdraw all final or pending documents, directives, orders, regulations, materials, forms, communications, statements, and plans that promote gender ideology. To date, the following directions are provided:

Contracts and Grants. NASA Contractors and Grantees immediately shall cease and desist all activities that promote or reflect gender ideology required of their contracts or grants. For Contracts, in accordance with FAR 52.242-15, Stop Work clause, a stop work order may have been issued to stop all or any part of the related activity. Additionally, FAR 52.249, Terminations clause modifications may also be issued to implement this change. For grants this cease and desist is in accordance 2 CFR 200.340 Termination. For both grants and contracts, this work may include but is not limited to: training, reporting, special emphasis programs, or any other direct or indirect contract or grant activity that promulgates gender ideology. All Contractors and Grantees shall notify their Contracting Officer or Grant Officer if they identify requirements within their contracts or grants that are in violation of this guidance.

Guidance. Additional guidance may be issued to further implement the executive order requirements, such as updating and removing any gender ideology related policy guidance in the NASA FAR Supplement, Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual, Grant and Cooperative Agreement Procedures, and the Grant and Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions.

Websites, social media, accounts, etc. NASA Office of Procurement has removed external and internal facing contract and grant websites that included any gender ideology related policies and documents, and these website were taken offline as of 5pm January 31, per OPM guidance.

We endeavor to keep our NASA contractor and grantee community informed. As additional guidance becomes available, NASA Contracting Officers or Grant Officers will be contacting your organization to discuss necessary contract or grant modifications required to comply with the Executive Orders. To ensure efficient lines of communication are available we ask companies to actively engage with their cognizant Contracting officer or Grant Officer regarding the removal of gender ideology activities as it pertains to their contract or grant requirement.² Please contact your cognizant Contracting Officer or Grant Officer if you have any questions regarding this memorandum.

I appreciate your cooperation and continued commitment to supporting NASA’s mission.

Karla Smith Jackson
Assistant Administrator for Procurement

Cc: HQ/ OP Deputy Assistant Administrator/Mr. Horne
HQ/ OGC Associate Chief Counsel/Mr. Barber
HQ/ OP Director PGPD/Ms. Wise
HQ/OP Director PSOD/Ms. Mitchell
HQ/OP Director ESAD/Mr. Sage
HQ/OP Director BOT/Ms. Kalisa
NASA Center/Procurement Officers
NASA Center/Deputy Procurement Officers

¹ NASA Contractors and Grantees remain responsible for adhering to generally-applicable laws, such as Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other requirements, which are independent of federal contract or grants requirements.

² Grant includes cooperative agreement as defined in 2 CFR 200.