HR 494119th CongressIn Committee

To amend the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014 to make improvements to the Federal Cyber Scholarship for Service Program, and for other purposes.

Introduced: Jan 16, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill would strengthen the Federal Cyber Scholarship for Service (FCSS) program by making two key changes to the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014. First, it extends the required service obligation for FCSS participants from 3 years to 5 years in exchange for scholarship support. Second, it broadens and guarantees loan repayment: the full amount of a loan described in the program (subsection (i)) would be repaid, without being limited by typical loan caps or related Higher Education Act restrictions or regulations. In plain terms, it would make FCSS scholarships more valuable and more demanding in terms of post-graduation service, while eliminating limits on how much of a participant’s student loan could be repaid by the program.

Key Points

1Service obligation increase: The required time to serve in exchange for FCSS support rises from 3 years to 5 years.
2Expanded loan repayment: The program would repay the full amount of a loan described in subsection (i), removing typical caps or limitations tied to part D of Title IV of the Higher Education Act (and related regulations or policies).
3Regulatory framing preserved: The bill keeps the reference to the same part of the Higher Education Act but changes the amount repaid to be the full loan, regardless of usual limits.
4Purpose tied to cybersecurity workforce: The changes are intended to strengthen the FCSS program to better prepare and retain skilled personnel for federal, state, and local cybersecurity needs.
5Administration and funding implications: The changes would require additional funding and administrative capacity to support a longer service obligation and 100% loan repayment.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected:- FCSS scholars and applicants (students pursuing cybersecurity degrees who receive scholarships).Secondary group/area affected:- Federal, state, and local government cybersecurity workforce (beneficiaries of FCSS service commitments).- Colleges and universities participating in FCSS partnerships (program administration and student recruitment).Additional impacts:- Taxpayer and federal budget considerations due to higher total program costs from a longer service obligation and 100% loan forgiveness.- Potential changes to program eligibility and long-term workforce planning for cybersecurity roles across government.

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