On April 23, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed two executive orders that could reshape the landscape of STEM education and workforce development in the United States. One order focuses on advancing artificial intelligence (AI) education for American youth, while the other aims to promote excellence and innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Both have significant implications for STEM Ecosystems and leaders.
Below, we break down each executive order, provide direct links to official fact sheets, and analyze what these changes mean for the STEM ecosystem community.
Executive Order 1: Advancing AI Education for American Youth
Read the official fact sheet
Read the full executive order
What the Executive Order Does
President Trump’s executive order establishes a White House Task Force on AI Education with a mission to integrate artificial intelligence into K-12 education nationwide. The initiative aims to:
- Prioritize Early AI Exposure: Students will have increased opportunities to learn about AI from an early age, preparing them to participate confidently in an AI-driven workforce.
- Comprehensive Teacher Training: The Department of Education is directed to prioritize AI in discretionary grant programs, supporting professional development for teachers to both instruct students in AI and use AI tools in the classroom.
- Public-Private Partnerships: The Task Force will foster collaborations between government, industry, academia, and philanthropy to develop and distribute AI educational resources.
- Workforce Pathways: The Department of Labor will expand AI-related apprenticeships and encourage states to use Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding for AI skill development and work-based learning.
- National AI Challenge: A Presidential AI Challenge will recognize student and educator achievements, promote innovation, and encourage broad participation in AI education.
What This Means for STEM Ecosystem Leaders
For STEM Ecosystem leaders, this executive order is a call to action to:
- Align Local Initiatives with National Priorities: There’s an opportunity to synchronize local and regional STEM programs with the federal focus on AI literacy, opening doors to new funding streams and support.
- Facilitate Cross-Sector Partnerships: Leaders are encouraged to deepen relationships with industry, higher education, and community organizations to co-design and implement AI learning experiences for both students and teachers.
- Support and Upskill Educators: With a focus on teacher training, Ecosystems should prioritize professional development and training that empowers educators to integrate AI and computational thinking into their curricula.
- Promote Workforce Readiness: By connecting K-12 education to apprenticeships and career pathways, leaders can help bridge the gap between classroom learning and workforce needs, ensuring students are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow. This is the time to revisit your STEM pathways to look for ways to embed AI skills and competencies.
- Recognize and Celebrate Innovation: The National AI Challenge offers a platform to spotlight student and educator achievements, fostering a culture of innovation within STEM communities.
Executive Order 2: Promoting Excellence and Innovation at HBCUs
Read the official fact sheet
Read the full executive order
What the Executive Order Does
This order establishes a White House Initiative on HBCUs, housed in the Executive Office of the President, to enhance these institutions’ capacity for high-quality education and workforce preparation. Key elements include:
- Strengthening Private-Sector Partnerships: The initiative will prioritize collaborations with industry and philanthropy to support institutional development, fiscal stability, and infrastructure upgrades at HBCUs.
- Workforce Preparation in High-Growth Industries: Focus areas include technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and finance—fields central to the STEM Ecosystem.
- Support for Research and Program Excellence: HBCUs will receive assistance to improve access to federal and state grants, enhance R&D competitiveness, and foster program innovation.
- Annual White House HBCU Summit: HBCUs will convene to address barriers, share best practices, and establish new partnerships.
- President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs: This board, comprising leaders from across sectors, will help guide policy and foster collaboration.
What This Means for STEM Ecosystem Leaders
For STEM Ecosystem leaders, this executive order offers new avenues for partnership and advancement:
- Expand Collaboration with HBCUs: Ecosystem leaders can seek out and strengthen partnerships with HBCUs on STEM programming, research, and workforce initiatives, leveraging new federal funding support.
- Support R&D and Institutional Growth: By collaborating on grant applications and research projects, Ecosystems can help HBCUs enhance their research capacity and competitiveness.
- Engage in National Policy and Practice: The annual summit and advisory board provide platforms for STEM leaders to share insights, contribute to policy discussions, and help shape the national STEM agenda.
- Foster Workforce Readiness: By working together, Ecosystems and HBCUs can design programs that prepare students for high-growth STEM fields, addressing both regional and national workforce needs.
Strategic Takeaways for STEM Leaders
Both executive orders provide some initial insight on the new administration’s stance on STEM education and workforce development—one that prioritizes AI literacy, institutional advancement, and innovation. Here’s how STEM Ecosystem leaders can respond:
- Leverage New Funding and Partnerships: Seek out grants, apprenticeships, and collaborative ventures catalyzed by these executive orders.
- Lead Professional Learning: Prioritize educator development in AI and STEM, supporting teachers as they adapt to new technologies and curricula.
- Shape Policy: Engage in summits and advisory boards to influence the evolving landscape of STEM education and workforce preparation.
These executive orders present both a mandate and an opportunity for STEM Ecosystem leaders to drive innovation and excellence in STEM education nationwide. By aligning with federal priorities, deepening partnerships, and advancing workforce readiness, STEM leaders can help prepare all learners for success in the AI-driven, high-tech economy of the future.
