Coalition Supports FY26 Final Science Agencies Spending Bill
On Monday, January 5, Congressional Appropriations leaders published their bipartisan, bicameral agreement on a final FY26 three-bill appropriations package that includes the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies bill, one of the most important appropriations bill for STEM Education. The bill preserves the National Science Foundation’s STEM Education Directorate and reinforces congressional intent to sustain targeted STEM education investments.
The bill provides $938 million for the STEM Education Directorates programs and directs continued investment across specific NSF STEM education accounts, including programs that support:
K-12, informal, and postsecondary STEM learning,
STEM teacher preparation and professional development,
Participation in STEM for underrepresented and rural communities,
Workforce-aligned education and experiential learning tied to national competitiveness.
The bill also rejects the proposal to eliminate the Office of STEM Engagement at NASA, providing $143 million for those programs to continue hands-on STEM engagement and research opportunities aligned to the space exploration and competitiveness priorities of the agency.
“This bipartisan funding package affirms that STEM education and scientific discovery remain core priorities for our nation. We were especially pleased to see strong support for the STEM education mission at the National Science Foundation, which is an essential component of a comprehensive U.S. innovation and competitiveness strategy. By providing stable, sustained support for the STEM talent pipeline across key federal agencies, Congress is reinforcing the foundations of economic growth and prosperity that will continue to provide learning opportunities for future generations. Congress needs to pass this bill,” stated James Brown, Executive Director, STEM Education Coalition.
We encourage all STEM education advocates to urge their members of Congress to support the spending package through the dedicated campaign on our STEM Ed Coalition Action Center