After months of negotiations and uncertainty, the United States Congress has completed most of its work on FY 2026 appropriations, advancing funding bills that include several important wins for science, engineering, and STEM education. While no spending package is perfect, key provisions in the FY 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) appropriations bills reflect meaningful progress on priorities long championed by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).
Together, these bills demonstrate bipartisan and bicameral recognition of the federal government’s role in strengthening the STEM ecosystem — from research and innovation to K–12 education and workforce development.
Investments in Federal Research Agencies
The FY 2026 CJS bill includes continued support for core federal research agencies that underpin U.S. scientific leadership and innovation. Funding for agencies, such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and NASA, helps sustain critical basic and applied research, expand opportunities for STEM students, and support programs that broaden participation in science and engineering. Importantly, the CJS bill preserves the NSF’s STEM education directorate and the agency’s commitment to broadening participation in STEM fields.
These investments align closely with SWE’s long-standing policy priorities, which emphasize the importance of stable, predictable funding for federal research agencies. Robust research funding not only fuels discovery and economic competitiveness, but also creates pathways for women and underrepresented groups to enter and thrive in STEM fields.
Supporting STEM Education and the Workforce Pipeline
The FY 2026 LHHS bill makes important strides in protecting and strengthening education programs that support the STEM pipeline, particularly at the K–12 level. The bill maintains funding for foundational K-12 education programs, such as Title I and IDEA, which are essential to ensuring equitable access to education for students of all backgrounds — including future engineers and technologists. It also preserves support for K-12 STEM education via level funding for the Student Support and Academic Enrichment grant program, which school districts can use for STEM programming.
While the LHHS bill does not include the level of growth many education advocates had hoped for, it represents a clear improvement over both the White House’s FY 2026 budget proposal and earlier House Republican proposals that would have significantly reduced or eliminated key education investments. By preserving federal support for education and related workforce initiatives, the final bill helps safeguard opportunities for students and educators working to build a more diverse and inclusive STEM workforce.
SWE’s Advocacy in Action
SWE played an active role throughout the FY 2026 appropriations process. As the bills moved through Congress, the organization signed on to multiple coalition letters urging lawmakers to prioritize adequate funding for federal research agencies and STEM education programs. These efforts reflect SWE’s commitment to ensuring that the voices of women engineers are heard in federal policy discussions.
The passage of the CJS and LHHS bills with bipartisan, bicameral support underscores the impact of sustained advocacy and collaboration across the STEM community.
Looking Ahead
Although most FY 2026 funding is now settled, SWE’s advocacy work is far from over. The Society will continue engaging with lawmakers during its Capitol Hill visits later this spring, reinforcing the message that investments in research, education, and workforce development are essential to America’s future — and to advancing women in engineering.
On March 18-19, 2026, SWE will host a Congressional outreach event for paid FY26 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026) SWE members to engage with U.S. elected officials and their staff in Washington, D.C. Training will include a virtual one-hour session on March 4 and a half-day in-person training on March 18. The event will be held in person.
As Congress turns its attention to future funding cycles, SWE remains committed to championing policies that expand opportunity, strengthen innovation, and ensure that women engineers are fully represented in shaping the technologies and solutions of tomorrow.
