The STEM RESTART Act creates a new federal grant program to help mid-career workers—particularly those from rural areas—return to or transition into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers. The program provides grants to small and medium-sized STEM companies (employing 50 to 10,000 people) to develop paid internships and other job programs that lead to mid-level positions with competitive salaries and benefits, not entry-level work. Grant amounts range from $100,000 to $1 million annually for smaller companies and $500,000 to $5 million for larger ones, with funding lasting three to five years for each program. The bill authorizes $50 million per year from 2026 through 2030 and requires companies to show they won't displace current workers, won't declare bankruptcy, and will maintain returnship programs for at least ten weeks. Grant recipients must report annually on participant outcomes and demographics, with the Department of Labor evaluating results and sharing best practices with Congress.
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