A Department of Defense program providing STEM activities for local kids is on hold as the deadline for the U.S. Congress to pass a fiscal year 2025 budget approaches.
The Kansas Adjutant General's Department on Friday announced Kansas STARBASE temporarily suspended operations Tuesday and placed most employees on leave without pay ahead of the March 14 deadline for Congress to fund the government. STARBASE requires annual congressional funding for its 90-plus programs nationwide, including in 69传媒.
69传媒淲hile my staff will feel real financial pain and miss teaching, my heart really goes out to the kids and their classroom teachers who no longer are able to come to STARBASE until funding is restored 69传媒 those have been looking forward to coming all year,69传媒 said Kansas STARBASE executive director Melissa Peat in a written statement. 69传媒淓very month we are in this shortfall; approximately 1,000 will miss out on the unique opportunity of attending Kansas STARBASE.69传媒
In December, Congress passed a second continuing resolution to fund the government funded through March 14. If Congress fails to agree on a fiscal year 2025 budget by the March 14 deadline, there's a risk of a government shutdown.
Officials said the program received "greatly reduced" funding from the previous year. That caused a "severe shortage in funds" that caused the temporary suspension of operations.
Officials said STARBASE will resume operations once the issue is resolved, and Peat said she's confident that will happen.
Kansas STARBASE employs 29 full-time staff and has sites in 69传媒, Salina, Topeka, Wichita and Kansas City. Established in 1993, the program provides five-day STEM academies to more than 131,000 across the state. The program seeks to serve from diverse backgrounds, including those historically underrepresented in STEM fields and those from low-income communities.
The program primarily focuses on providing fifth grade with STEM curriculum at military installations. In 69传媒, STARBASE serves 10 local public school districts as well as area provide schools at the National Guard Armory at 721 Levee Dr.
