Why It Matters

The Coalition for U.S. Engineering has registered Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. to advocate on behalf of the organization as it pushes for policy changes affecting the nation's engineering workforce. Brookings Institution research indicates the nation needs at least 50,000 additional engineers and 200,000 to 300,000 additional skilled tradespeople to complete industrial facilities already under construction. The Department of Government Efficiency terminated 1,752 National Science Foundation (NSF) grants worth $1.4 billion, with more than half of the canceled funding targeting STEM education programs, and the Trump administration's fiscal year 2026 budget proposed slashing NSF's education programs by as much as 75%.

Broader Context

The federal government has recently taken significant actions affecting STEM education funding. The Department of Government Efficiency terminated 1,752 National Science Foundation grants worth $1.4 billion, with more than half of the canceled funding targeting STEM education programs. The Trump administration's fiscal year 2026 budget proposed slashing NSF's education programs by as much as 75%. Despite these cuts, Congress appropriated $938 million for NSF education programs in fiscal year 2026. Science and engineering indicators are published to advise the president and Congress on the state of science and engineering in a global context, and the most recent report was published in May. Both K-12 STEM enrollment and foreign student enrollment in U.S. STEM programs are declining.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies argues that the United States' competitive edge in artificial intelligence against China will come from talent, education, infrastructure, and public innovation rather than restrictions alone. The Brookings Institution warned that the U.S. can no longer take its technology leadership for granted and must attract and retain the world's top technology talent. CSIS notes that immigrants account for a quarter of all STEM workers and a disproportionate share of patents and scientific breakthroughs.

Leslee Gilbert, a Vice President at the firm, is assigned to lead the advocacy, alongside Holten Stringer.

The Bottom Line

The Coalition for U.S. Engineering's lobbying registration reflects mounting pressure to address workforce gaps at a time when federal support for science and engineering education is contracting.

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