I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6631 
To require the Secretary of Defense to establish a program for the develop-
ment of cybersecurity education at academic institutions, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
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 subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Defense to establish a program 
for the development of cybersecurity education at aca-
demic institutions, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Establishing Cyber Se-
curity Educational Programs at Academic Institutions 
Act’’. 
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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 institu-
tions to develop cybersecurity educational programs at 
such institutions, including by establishing curriculum 
standards, developing competencies in cybersecurity at 
such institutions, promoting community outreach regard-
ing participation in such educational programs, inte-
grating best practices across such educational programs, 
and advancing solutions to challenges in addressing edu-
cational 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 Depart-
ment of Homeland Security, the Director of the Na-
tional 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 edu-
cational resource development efforts and programs 
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consultation with Departments and Agencies 
enabling the development of educational pro-
grams 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 Stand-
ards and Technology in NIST Special Publica-
tion 800–181, Revision 5, or any successor 
framework. 
(B) Criteria and requirements for the aca-
demic institution emphasizing the following: 
(i) Outreach to the surrounding com-
munity 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. 
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(iv) Demonstrated commitment to im-
plementing cyber best practices within the 
academic institution across academic dis-
ciplines. 
(v) Demonstrated commitment to 
seeking solutions to challenges in address-
ing Federal, State, local, territorial, and 
Tribal-level needs. 
(vi) Regional accreditation from one 
of the six regional accrediting agencies rec-
ognized by the Department of Education 
providing external review to assure quality 
and ongoing improvement. 
(C) Increasing collaboration within the 
cyber education community to support develop-
ment 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 lev-
els to further define workforce requirements 
and assist in defining academic requirements to 
prepare students for the field of cyber. 
(d) METRICS AND REPORT.— 
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(1) METRICS.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall— 
(A) collaborate with the individuals de-
scribed in subsection (b)(1) to identify metrics 
and annual data reporting requirements nec-
essary to assess the degree to which the pro-
gram established under subsection (a) is meet-
ing the objectives of such program; and 
(B) ensure adequate data and best prac-
tices are made available to the individuals de-
scribed in subsection (b)(1) to measure the effi-
cacy of such program and the benefits provided 
by such program to individuals participating in 
such program and to the Department of De-
fense 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 an-
nually thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall sub-
mit to Congress a report on the benefits provided by 
the program established under subsection (a) to in-
dividuals participating in such program and to the 
Department compared to costs of such program paid 
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by academic institutions participating in such pro-
gram and sponsors of such program. 
(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion 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 sub-
section (a). 
(f) ACADEMIC INSTITUTION DEFINED.—The term 
‘‘academic institution’’ means— 
(1) an institution of higher education (as de-
fined 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 sec-
tion 2111a(f) of title 10, United States Code). 
Æ 
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