STEM RESTART Act

This proposal would create a national program to help mid-career workers return to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) jobs. It would give federal funding to small and mid-sized STEM businesses so they can offer paid internships or “returnships” that are designed to lead to jobs above entry level. The goal is to help people with skills get back into good STEM roles after time away or after switching fields .

For workers, this means a paid path back into the STEM workforce, not just entry-level roles. For businesses, it helps cover the cost of bringing trained people back and moving them into higher-level jobs. The program would be added under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, focused on real work experience that leads to hiring and advancement .

• Who it affects: mid-career STEM workers and small to mid-sized STEM employers
• What changes: new federal grants to fund paid returnships that lead to above-entry-level jobs
• When: after the law takes effect and the program is set up under existing workforce law