The United States is no stranger to adapting its education system to address the challenges of the times. In 1957, the Soviet Union’s successful launch of Sputnik prompted the U.S. to implement programs like the National Defense Education Act, which emphasized science, math, and foreign language education. This resulted in the rapid growth in federal funding for K-12 and higher education STEM programs, and an increase in STEM graduates in the following decades. Today, we face a similar pivotal moment. The Biden-Harris administration recognized this urgency, releasing a comprehensive Federal Strategic Plan for Advancing STEM Education and Cultivating STEM Talent in November 2024. This plan aims to develop the workforce needed to address critical challenges like climate change and artificial intelligence, focusing on three key principles: access and opportunity, partnerships and ecosystem development, and transparency and accountability. However, with current political shifts, the continuity of such initiatives hangs in the balance. The U.S. faces an unprecedented challenge—not from external competitors, but from rapid AI advancement that our education system isn’t prepared for. While federal STEM initiatives often focus on bureaucratic solutions through agencies like the Department of Education (only established in 1980), the real imperative is transforming how we teach and learn. Our curriculum needs radical updating to emphasize lifelong learning, rapid prototyping, and creative problem-solving skills. With software development jobs expected to grow at a rate of 17% from 2023 to 2033, resulting in an average of 140,100 job openings a year, we must streamline education, reduce administrative overhead, and focus on practical skills that prepare students for an AI-driven future. Deregulation and local control could actually accelerate this transformation, allowing schools to adapt more quickly to technological change and workforce demands. The AI revolution and the gender gap From 2017 to 2021, we saw how the Trump era’s education policies prioritized deregulation and school choice. As Trump returns, we’ll no doubt see the same. The government and educational institutions across the country are going to have to step up as deregulation occurs. This is not necessarily a bad thing. After all, the Department of Education is only 25 years old. As the founder and CEO of a leading global technology and AI education nonprofit for girls, I’ve seen firsthand how AI presents both opportunities and challenges. While AI can automate tasks, it also demands a workforce skilled in areas like data analysis, critical thinking, and human-centered design. However, the U.S. education system continues to graduate a disproportionately low number of women in STEM fields. Women make up just 35% of the STEM workforce, despite classes being offered through the formal school system. Women are already behind and will be even further left behind without the right intervention. An analysis analysis conducted by researchers from Berkeley Haas, Stanford University, and Harvard Business School shows that women are significantly less likely to learn about AI, use AI tools and build AI technologies. Because women aren’t involved in the development, the data sets AI is trained on are therefore biased. And when women don’t have access to economic opportunity, they can’t invest back into the community, slowing progress. Thankfully, we can prevent it. We have all the insights and data from past decades to inform our strategy and powerful tools and partners to implement proven strategies at scale. Research proves it’s possible In 1995, at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), only 7% of the incoming computer science undergraduates were women. The administration was alarmed and supported a study to determine how to bring more women into the field. The Unlocking the Clubhouse study outlined that it’s not enough to provide access to coursework for women and minorities. There has to be a full spectrum of support that helps move their interest in a particular field to one they identify with. CMU implemented their recommendations and in 2021 welcomed more than 51% women into the program. It proved that we must set ambitious and measurable goals. The AI Forward Alliance did just that. Our recent Women in AI report highlights that to achieve 50-50 gender parity in the AI workforce by 2035, we need to engage around 600,000 U.S. high school girls in evidence-based tech programs every year, starting now. Without this intervention, women’s representation in tech will remain stagnant, perpetuating inequities and stifling economic and technological growth. We have to create a sense of urgency, ensuring stakeholders and communities prioritize equitable participation in the tech workforce. This may require a specific U.S. coalition and campaign dedicated to gender equality in AI. Build a workforce for the AI era The U.S. education system will have to play a meaningful role to ensure the country can compete in the AI era. First and foremost, we need a complete overhaul of our education system. Several key areas can help position the U.S. as a leader in AI education and workforce development. First, we must fundamentally redesign our curriculum to go beyond traditional STEM education, focusing instead on learning not just how to use AI but how to build better AI. This means developing courses that teach students coding skills, but also critical thinking about AI outputs, understanding of AI’s limitations, and the ability to effectively leverage its potential. Building on this foundation, we need to take lessons from success stories like Carnegie Mellon’s approach to diversity in tech education. Simply offering STEM classes isn’t sufficient—we must actively engage girls and minorities through targeted programs and mentorship, creating an inclusive environment that supports all students in pursuing tech careers. Finally, we must recognize that the skills needed in the AI era will continue evolving rapidly. This requires fostering a culture of lifelong learning throughout our education system, equipping students with the tools and mindset needed to adapt and grow throughout their careers. The ability to continuously learn and adapt will be crucial for success in an AI-driven future. As we stand at this critical juncture in American education, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The contrast between the Biden administration’s forward-thinking STEM initiatives and the potential reversal of progress under a return to Trump-era policies presents a stark choice about our nation’s future. This isn’t merely about maintaining America’s competitive edge—though that’s certainly at risk—it’s about ensuring every American student has the opportunity to participate in and shape tomorrow’s AI-driven economy. The path forward requires unwavering commitment to educational equity, sustained investment in STEM programs, and a recognition that in the age of AI, we need all of America’s diverse talent pool engaged and empowered. The question isn’t whether we can afford to make these investments—it’s whether we can afford not to. Our nation’s future innovation, economic prosperity, and technological leadership hang in the balance, and the time to act is now. Tara Chklovski is founder and CEO of Technovation.

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