Cybersecurity Education Program Establishment Act

Summary#

This bill requires the Secretary of Defense to set up a program to work with colleges and senior military colleges to develop cybersecurity education. The work includes creating curriculum standards, defining cybersecurity skills, promoting community outreach, sharing best practices, and tackling educational challenges in cyber. The Secretary must consult with the Directors of the National Security Agency, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and National Science Foundation, and may consult other agencies, private sector groups, and schools. The Secretary will designate institutions that meet program standards in cyber defense, cyber operations, or cyber research. Designation criteria reference the Defense Cyber Workforce Framework and NIST Special Publication 800-181 (Revision 5) or successors, and include outreach, leadership in workforce development, curriculum offerings, cross-discipline best practices, regional accreditation, and responsiveness to Federal, State, local, territorial, and Tribal needs. The Secretary must work to increase collaboration across the cyber education community and with employers. The bill requires the Secretary to identify metrics, set annual data reporting needs, and make data available to measure program effectiveness. An annual report to Congress is required beginning within one year of enactment that compares benefits to participants and the Department to costs borne by participating institutions and sponsors. The bill says it does not change other agencies’ statutory authorities and does not authorize additional appropriations.

What it means for you#

• For colleges that do Department of Defense–sponsored research or for senior military colleges: they could be designated under the program if they meet the listed standards. Designation could mean working with the Defense Department on curriculum and other education efforts.
• For students and faculty: the program aims to develop clearer cybersecurity curricula, skill expectations, and outreach that could affect course offerings and community programs. The bill also calls for sharing best practices and measuring outcomes.
• For employers and the private sector: the bill calls for more collaboration with schools to define workforce needs and to help shape academic programs that prepare students for cyber roles.
• For the Department of Defense and oversight: the bill requires annual reporting to Congress on program benefits and costs.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on specific new funding levels or costs. The bill explicitly states it does not authorize the appropriation of additional amounts. The Secretary must report annually comparing benefits to individuals and the Department with costs paid by participating institutions and sponsors.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.