STEM education program at Robins Air Force Base may close over funding issue. What we know

A STEM education program at Robins Air Force Base has warned that it may close after hitting an impasse with a Senate committee over funding.

The program, known as STARBASE Robins, is a program focused on educating Middle Georgia students in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. It is part of the broader STARBASE program, which operates on 88 military bases around the U.S. A news release from the program said it is one of the Department of Defense’s largest youth outreach programs, working with more than 2,300 students in the past year alone.

Funding issues began when the STARBASE program sought a $60 million increase in money from Congress. The House of Representatives approved the change, the release said, but the Senate Armed Services Committee — the committee tasked with legislative oversight of the nation’s military — allocated only $20 million. Representatives from STARBASE Robins did not elaborate on why the Senate Armed Services Committee wouldn’t agree to provide more money.

STARBASE Robins received stopgap funding from the Department of Defense to stay open through Jan. 31, but that money is expected to run out sometime this month.

The release said that if the program is unable to receive additional funding, it may be forced to close and lay off staff members at the end of the month.

“The future of our Middle Georgia children’s STEM education is at stake,” said Wesley Fondal, executive director of STARBASE Robins, in the release. “We need our community’s support to ensure that STARBASE ROBINS can continue to inspire the next generation of innovators and leaders.”