A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program on Department of Defense partnerships with institutions of higher education recognized in the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity program for Cyber Research, and for other purposes.

Jacky Rosen

Democrat · NV · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Ted Budd (R-NC)Original· 2026-09-24

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

2026-09-24

Source: Congress.gov

Plain-English summary pending. Introduced on 2026-09-24. Check back soon — summaries are generated as bills progress through Congress.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 5504 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 5504 To require the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program on Department of Defense partnerships with institutions of higher education recognized in the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity program for Cyber Research, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 24, 2026 Ms. Rosen (for herself and Mr. Budd) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program on Department of Defense partnerships with institutions of higher education recognized in the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity program for Cyber Research, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. PILOT PROGRAM ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PARTNERSHIPS WITH INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION RECOGNIZED IN THE NATIONAL CENTERS OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN CYBERSECURITY PROGRAM FOR CYBER RESEARCH. (a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a pilot program under the Defense Cyber Workforce Framework to assess the feasibility of partnering advanced cyberspace operations and information aggressor units of the Department of Defense with institutions of higher education recognized in the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity program for Cyber Research (CAE- R), Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), or Cyber Operations (CAE-CO) by the National Security Agency-- (1) to improve the cyber workforce pipeline of the United States; (2) to enhance military cyber training through academic collaboration, research, cyber range exercises, and create direct pathways for students into Federal cybersecurity careers; (3) to leverage existing scholarship and fellowship opportunities, such as the Cyber Service Academy, the Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation, and other cyber scholarship for service programs; and (4) to improve coordination, guidance, and counseling for participating students seeking to pursue careers in cybersecurity or cyber operations in the Department of Defense or elsewhere in the Federal Government. (b) Elements.--The pilot program required by subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) Establishment of a research cell supporting aggressor operations through open-source intelligence, emerging threat analysis, and development of adversary emulation playbooks. (2) Creation of an assessment framework for determining the impact of the pilot program, including a cost-benefit analysis for partnering students with operational units, that-- (A) determines the time to clear students for participation in the program; and (B) determines the time and cost necessary to get students access to networks required to provide operational support to military cyber operators. (3) Assessment of the curricula for participating students to determine if such coursework is relevant and impactful in preparing such students to directly support operational military cyber operators. (4) Tracking students participating in the pilot program to determine how the pilot program affects potential future employment with the Department of Defense or the Federal Government. (c) Sunset.--The pilot program established under subsection (a) shall terminate on September 30, 2031. <all>

• SRES929A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding equity stakes held by the Federal Government in private companies.
  Referred to Committee · 2026-09-30
• S5582Veteran Education Empowerment Act
  Referred to Committee · 2026-09-29
• S5581Veteran Technology Employment Success Act of 2026
  Referred to Committee · 2026-09-29
• SRES898A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the additional tariffs imposed on Canadian goods under section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and the rhetoric surrounding the bilateral relationship between Canada and the United States harm United States consumers and businesses and the tariffs should be rescinded.
  Referred to Committee · 2026-09-24