House FY2027 CJS bill creates uncertainty for STEM education programs

By Della Cronin, Principal, Bose Public Affairs Group.

Afterschool STEM advocates have a stake in nearly every federal agency and spending bill, but the annual Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations bill is particularly important. It funds several agencies that support STEM learning, workforce development, and research opportunities that help young people engage with science, technology, engineering, and math both in and out of school.

The House Appropriations Committee’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 CJS spending bill would significantly reduce federal STEM education investments, with the most notable changes affecting the National Science Foundation (NSF) and NASA.

At NSF, the bill provides $7 billion overall, $1.75 billion below the FY2026 enacted level. The agency’s Research and Related Activities (R&RA) account would receive $6.44 billion, a decrease of more than $736 million.

Perhaps most concerning for afterschool and STEM education advocates, the bill does not include a separate appropriation for NSF’s STEM Education Directorate. Instead, consistent with the Administration’s budget proposal, STEM education activities appear to be folded into the larger R&RA account. As a result, it is unclear how much funding would ultimately support STEM education programs.

Despite that uncertainty, committee report language signals continued support for several STEM education priorities. These include improving undergraduate STEM education at Hispanic-Serving Institutions, preparing STEM professionals to become teachers, increasing STEM degree completion, supporting pre-K–12 STEM learning resources, and expanding access to computer science and computational thinking education.

While the report does not specifically mention programs such as Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) or Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST), both are part of NSF’s broader STEM education portfolio and could be affected by changes to the Directorate’s funding structure.

The bill also allocates $50 million from the CHIPS for America Workforce and Education Fund to NSF, including $44 million for education and training activities and $6 million for research and development.

NASA would also see major changes under the House proposal. The bill eliminates the agency’s standalone STEM Engagement account, which received $100 million in FY2026. For years, the account has supported programs that connect students and educators with NASA missions, resources, and career pathways.

Some STEM-related activities would continue. The bill provides $58 million for the National Space Grant Fellowship Program and $26 million for NASA EPSCoR, which supports research capacity in states and territories that historically receive a smaller share of federal research funding. The committee also directs NASA to continue supporting the First Nations Launch program, which provides Tribal colleges, Native American-serving institutions, and AISES chapter schools opportunities to participate in rocket design, payload development, flight testing, and mission operations.

The bill’s report language also emphasizes broadening participation in STEM. NSF is directed to increase participation by Emerging Research Institutions and reduce barriers that limit access to federally funded research. The committee also supports accessible microelectronics laboratories intended to expand hands-on learning opportunities for students and engineers at community colleges and other under-resourced institutions.

Other agencies funded through the CJS bill include smaller STEM workforce initiatives. The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership is encouraged to work with community colleges and school districts to strengthen workforce pathways, including apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships. NOAA’s education-related provisions remain limited, while the agency’s overall funding would also decline compared to FY2026.

Overall, the House bill preserves some STEM education and workforce priorities but significantly reduces or restructures dedicated STEM education funding. For afterschool STEM providers, museums, science centers, and community-based organizations, the most significant concerns are the elimination of NASA’s STEM Engagement account and the absence of a separate NSF STEM Education Directorate appropriation. Both changes create uncertainty about the future of programs that support STEM learning beyond the classroom.

The appropriations process is still in its early stages. It remains unclear when the House bill will reach the floor, and Senate appropriators have not yet scheduled markups of their own CJS legislation. As Congress continues work on FY2027 funding bills, STEM education advocates will be watching closely to see whether lawmakers restore, modify, or further reshape these critical investments in STEM learning and workforce development. STEM education advocates should weigh in with Capitol Hill offices on the importance of federal investments; afterschool supporters should do the same.