Military Pulls Out of STEM Conference Amidst DEI Purge Concerns
The Pentagon’s new policy prohibiting the use of official resources for diversity-focused events has led to the cancellation of military participation in the annual BEYA STEM conference, despite the event’s long history of successful recruitment for the Department of Defense. This decision, impacting federal funding of approximately $1.5 million, has resulted in numerous military branches and contractors withdrawing from the conference, including the Army, Air Force, Navy, and prominent organizations like SpaceX and Booz Allen Hamilton. While service members can attend unofficially, the cancellations significantly hinder recruitment efforts and mentorship programs vital for national STEM competitiveness. The abrupt policy change has left organizers scrambling to mitigate the impact on attendees and the conference’s overall success.
John Q. Hosedrinker