Today, Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), the Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, and Congressman Dale Strong (R-AL), Member of the House Committees on Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Science, Space, and Technology, introduced the CyberCorps Enhancement Act of 2024, bipartisan legislation to improve and expand the existing CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS) Program.
“The federal government has a lot of work to do when it comes to recruiting and retaining the next generation of the federal workforce, especially in critical fields like cybersecurity and emerging technologies,” said Connolly. “This bipartisan legislation will go a long way toward strengthening our nation’s cybersecurity posture by ensuring we can attract the best of the best to serve our country.”
“North Alabama is a national leader in cybersecurity education, with one of the highest numbers of participants and graduates in the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program. This legislation will allow our local colleges and universities to continue to produce highly skilled, U.S.-trained cybersecurity experts to protect our national security interests and contribute to cutting-edge research,” said Strong. “Strengthening this pipeline is not just about defending our nation against cyber threats—it’s about creating high-paying, high-impact jobs here at home and ensuring America continues to lead the way in cybersecurity, innovation, and defense.”
The CyberCorps SFS Program currently offers scholarships for up to three years of undergraduate or graduate education in cybersecurity, supporting a wide range of degrees—including Ph.D., master’s, bachelor’s, and associate degrees—focused on cybersecurity in fields such as AI, aerospace, quantum technologies, and more. In return, recipients commit to working in a cybersecurity role within the U.S. government for a period equal to the length of their scholarship.
The CyberCorps Enhancement Act of 2024 proposes two key improvements to the existing CyberCorps SFS Program:
- Extending Scholarship Support: Increases the statutory cap on scholarships from three to five years, accommodating students pursuing advanced degrees like Ph.D.s and expanding the pool of highly specialized cybersecurity professionals.
- Clarifying Loan Repayment Terms: Ensures the full amount of student loans is eligible for forgiveness. This change addresses concerns raised by participants about loan repayment challenges.
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This legislation is supported by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) USA.
“George Mason University strongly endorses the CyberCorps Enhancement Act. We commend Congressman Connolly for his leadership in introducing this legislation. The bill addresses a very real need. Increasing the statutory cap to five years allows our Ph.D. students to benefit and gives The Federal Government access to greater expertise. It’s a win-win. As a designated National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, Mason has been a recognized national leader in cybersecurity research, education and training,” said Kenneth Ball, Dean of the College of Engineering and Computing, George Mason University.
“The University of Alabama in Huntsville is home to one of the largest cohorts of CyberCorps Scholarship for Service recipients in the country, comprised of 92 incredibly bright scholars in the critical fields of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence,” said Dr. Tommy Morris, director of the University of Alabama in Huntsville’s Center for Cybersecurity Research and Education and eminent scholar of computer engineering. “The proposed changes will allow us to grow this important program by attracting more doctoral students, which will ultimately enhance national security considering recipients must work for the federal government upon graduation. UAH proudly offers top cybersecurity programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, and one of the largest cybersecurity research centers in America – the Center for Cybersecurity Research and Education – is located on our campus in Huntsville, a community that is leading the way in cybersecurity work. We are thankful to Congressman Strong for spearheading this effort.”
“As concerns about cyber threats expand, we will need to have the cybersecurity workforce able to protect our cyber infrastructure,” said Dr. Brian Payne, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs for Old Dominion University. “Training the future cybersecurity workforce at Old Dominion University through initiatives like the SFS Cybercorps program provides the government access to talented professionals prepared to address the multi-faceted nature of the problem.”
“Hampton University is dedicated to equipping our students with the resources they need to succeed in the rapidly evolving field of cybersecurity, and the CyberCorps Enhancement Act of 2024 will play a pivotal role in helping us provide those opportunities,” said LTG Darrell K. Williams, US Army Retired, President of Hampton University. “I commend Rep. Connolly and Rep. Strong for their work to extend the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program to five years, which will allow students to pursue higher degrees, such as Ph.D.s, in the field of cybersecurity.”
"As an institution committed to providing our students with the tools they need to succeed in the growing field of cybersecurity, Norfolk State University is encouraged by the CyberCorps Enhancement Act of 2024 and its potential impact. This legislation will significantly enhance the opportunities available to our students who are currently benefiting from the CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS) program. By extending scholarship support from three years to five years, this bill will allow students to pursue advanced degrees, including Ph.D.'s, in cybersecurity, addressing the critical need for more highly skilled professionals in both the federal workforce and academic settings. The additional support for loan repayment forgiveness further ensures that this program remains accessible to talented students, helping to build a sustainable pipeline of cybersecurity experts for our nation's future,” said President Javaune Adams-Gaston, Ph.D., Norfolk State University.
Full text of the legislation is available here.
