The STEM Talk | Episode 15: Federal Funds on the Chopping Block [7.2.26]

Episode 15: Federal Funds on the Chopping Block Billions in federal education funding are on the line, and the decisions being made on Capitol Hill right now will shape STEM programs for years to come. Whether you work in K-12, out-of-school time, higher ed, ed tech, or industry, this episode affects your funding future. The House Appropriations Committee just advanced an FY2027 proposal that cuts $8.1 billion from the Department of Education, eliminates Title II and Title III entirely, and rescinds $1.6 billion in already-appropriated funds. At the same time, NSF is undergoing a major reorganization that changes how organizations compete for federal STEM dollars. This episode breaks down exactly what's in the proposal, what a restructured NSF means for funding strategy, and what STEM leaders can do right now to advocate for the programs they rely on. In this episode, we discuss: What the FY2027 House Appropriations proposal actually cuts, eliminates, and rescinds, and what it means for STEM programs on the ground How NSF's reorganization is reshaping funding opportunities and what organizations need to know to stay competitive Concrete advocacy strategies STEM leaders can use right now while the appropriations process is still in motion We're joined by our regular panelists James Brown, Executive Director of the STEM Education Coalition, and Della Cronin of Bose Public Affairs Group, Leslie Brooks, STEM Hub at Afterschool Alliance, and Jenny Frank, Director of the STEM Ecosystem Initiative at TIES Global. This episode features special guest Robert Russell, retired Program Director from NSF's Directorate for STEM Education, who brings an insider's view of the agency's restructuring and what it means for the field.