December 11, 2025
Ms. Elfreth (for herself and Mr. Luttrell) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To require the Secretary of Defense to establish a program for the development of cybersecurity education at academic institutions, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Establishing Cyber Security Educational Programs at Academic Institutions Act
.
Sec. 2. Collaborative cybersecurity educational program
(a) Program required
The Secretary of Defense shall establish and carry out a program under which the Secretary shall seek to collaborate with academic institutions to develop cybersecurity educational programs at such institutions, including by establishing curriculum standards, developing competencies in cybersecurity at such institutions, promoting community outreach regarding participation in such educational programs, integrating best practices across such educational programs, and advancing solutions to challenges in addressing educational needs with respect to cyber.
(b) Consultation requirements
In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall—
(1)
consult with the Director of the National Security Agency, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Director of the National Science Foundation, to ensure that the cyber education programs and educational resource development efforts and programs of the Federal Government do not compete or conflict with each other;
(2)
consult with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies and representatives of appropriate private sector entities, academic institutions, and other organizations as determined necessary by the Secretary; and
(3)
manage instructional and participatory opportunities available through the efforts, programs, initiatives, and investments accounted for in the report required under section 1649 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 133 Stat. 1758).
(c) Designations
(1) In general
In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall designate academic institutions that meet the standards established under such program in one or more of cyber defense, cyber operations, and cyber research.
(2) Criteria
The Secretary of Defense shall make the designations under paragraph (1) based on the following:
(A)
Academic requirements and best practices identified by the Secretary of Defense in consultation with Departments and Agencies enabling the development of educational programs reflecting the full range of cyber work roles specified in the Defense Cyber Workforce Framework, the National Initiative on Cyber Education Workforce Framework for Cyber published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology in NIST Special Publication 800–181, Revision 5, or any successor framework.
(B)
Criteria and requirements for the academic institution emphasizing the following:
(i)
Outreach to the surrounding community of the academic institution.
(ii)
Leadership in contributing to the development of a national cyber workforce, including cultivating educational institution faculty and research leaders.
(iii)
Leadership in the development of educational and performance expectations for cyber professionals, including through curriculum and degree offerings to prepare future cyber professionals of all knowledge and skill levels.
(iv)
Demonstrated commitment to implementing cyber best practices within the academic institution across academic disciplines.
(v)
Demonstrated commitment to seeking solutions to challenges in addressing Federal, State, local, territorial, and Tribal-level needs.
(vi)
Regional accreditation from one of the six regional accrediting agencies recognized by the Department of Education providing external review to assure quality and ongoing improvement.
(C)
Increasing collaboration within the cyber education community to support development and sharing of educational materials and curriculum.
(D)
Increasing collaboration with private sector entities and government employers at the Federal, State, local, territorial, and Tribal levels to further define workforce requirements and assist in defining academic requirements to prepare students for the field of cyber.
(d) Metrics and report
(1) Metrics
The Secretary of Defense shall—
(A)
collaborate with the individuals described in subsection (b)(1) to identify metrics and annual data reporting requirements necessary to assess the degree to which the program established under subsection (a) is meeting the objectives of such program; and
(B)
ensure adequate data and best practices are made available to the individuals described in subsection (b)(1) to measure the efficacy of such program and the benefits provided by such program to individuals participating in such program and to the Department of Defense compared to costs of such program paid by academic institutions participating in such program and sponsors of such program.
(2) Annual report
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the benefits provided by the program established under subsection (a) to individuals participating in such program and to the Department compared to costs of such program paid by academic institutions participating in such program and sponsors of such program.
(e) Rule of construction
Nothing in this section shall be construed to—
(1)
supersede the statutory responsibilities or authorities of any head of a departments or agencies of the Federal Government; or
(2)
authorize the appropriation of additional amounts for the program established under subsection (a).
(f) Academic institution defined
The term academic institution means—
(1)
an institution of higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)) in the United States that conducts research sponsored by the Department of Defense; or
(2)
a senior military college (as defined in section 2111a(f) of title 10, United States Code).