Congresswomen Luz Rivas, Shontel Brown, and Alma Adams Urge Department of Justice to Reinstate Key National Science Foundation STEM Programs

LOS ANGELES - Congresswoman Luz Rivas (CA-29) - co-chair of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education Caucus - sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) opposing DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel's (OLC) decision to terminate three National Science Foundation (NSF) STEM programs. These programs - the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP), the Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate Program (AGEP), and the Improving Undergraduate STEM Education program (IUSE-HSI) - strengthen and expand STEM education and research opportunities for students from every background. She is joined by Congresswomen Shontel Brown (OH-11), Alma Adams (NC-12), and 15 House Democrats in opposing this ruling, and in urging DOJ to reverse course.

"This opinion is the latest step in a coordinated effort by this Administration to dismantle decades of bipartisan work expanding educational opportunities for minorities historically underrepresented in STEM," the Members wrote. "Ensuring that students from minority communities have access to STEM programs is vital to strengthening our American scientific workforce and ensuring that the United States remains globally competitive in science and technology."

In 1991, Congress created the Alliances for Minority Participation (later renamed the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation) to support students from underrepresented groups in STEM disciplines. Other programs followed, including AGEP, which is intended to broaden participation in the STEM workforce, and IUSE-HSI, which was designed to strengthen STEM capacity at Hispanic Serving Institutions. These programs account for approximately $104 million of the $938 million Congress appropriated to NSF under the STEM Education account, supporting thousands of students.

The Members continued: "At a time when the nation should be working to expand its STEM workforce, this Administration is continuously eliminating programs that are designed to ensure that gifted and talented students from all backgrounds have access to training and experience in scientific disciplines. The DOJ's OLC opinion is part of a broader pattern of attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and programs throughout the federal government. It will undermine the work Congress has done for decades to strengthen scientific education, research, and workforce."

A full copy of the letter can be found here.

Background:

On August 12, 2026, OLC declared the LSAMP, the AGEP, and the IUSE-HSI grants unconstitutional. These programs account for approximately $104 million of the $938 million Congress appropriated to NSF under the STEM Education account, supporting thousands of students.

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