The STEM RESTART Act creates a new federal grant program to help mid-career workers return to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers by offering paid internships and other re-entry opportunities with small and medium-sized STEM companies. Eligible companies can receive between $100,000 and $5 million annually for three to five years to establish returnship programs that place workers in positions above entry level with competitive salaries and benefits, with priority given to programs serving rural workers. The bill authorizes $50 million per year in funding from fiscal years 2026 through 2030, and requires participating companies to report annually on participant demographics and employment outcomes while the federal government must evaluate best practices and share findings with Congress and the public.
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