Bill to increase number of cybersecurity-related scholarships introduced in House, Senate

A bipartisan group of congressmen introduced the Department of Defense (DOD) Cyber Scholarship Program Act of 2017 last week, which aims to improve the nation’s cybersecurity workforce by enhancing existing DOD scholarship programs for students in cybersecurity-related majors.

The bill specifically calls for renaming the Information Assurance Scholarship Program (IASP) to the DOD Cyber Scholarship Program, expanding the number of scholarships to students pursuing cybersecurity-related associate’s degrees, and authorizing the scholarship program to receive $10 million in FY2018. IASP previously discontinued recruiting new students in 2013 due to budget constraints.

The bill was introduced in the House by U.S. Reps. Jim Langevin (D-RI), John Ratcliffe (R-TX), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Rich Allen (R-GA), and Hank Johnson (D-GA). A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA), David Purdue (R-GA) and Mike Rounds (R-SD).

“America needs the best and brightest to tackle the cybersecurity challenges we’re confronted with each day,” Ratcliffe said. “Step one is making cybersecurity service to the nation more attractive. This bill increases educational opportunities for those who can help bolster United States’ own cyber workforce, which will strengthen our ability to face growing cybersecurity challenges both now and moving forward.”