Sponsors (3)
The bill invests modest federal funds to strengthen AI-focused cyber-physical defenses and broaden academic participation, at the cost of new spending and potential gaps in private-sector inclusion and regional equity.
Researchers at universities and national labs gain $100 million in grant funding (FY2026–FY2030) to build secure AI cyber-physical testbeds, strengthening defenses against grid-scale cyberattacks.
Taxpayers and policymakers receive required annual reports to Congress through 2031 on evolving threats and AI mitigation progress, improving oversight and U.S. preparedness.
Colleges, consortia, and Hispanic-serving institutions are encouraged to collaborate on research and workforce development, broadening participation in cyber-physical security research and training.
Taxpayers face up to $100 million in new federal spending over five years to fund the grant program.
Eligibility limited to colleges, national labs, and consortia may exclude private-sector cyber firms, potentially slowing commercialization and broader deployment of defensive technologies.
Concentrated federal grants risk creating uneven regional benefits if more competitive institutions dominate funding, leaving some rural utilities and communities less served.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs CISA and DHS to fund AI cyber-physical grid testbeds, authorizes $100M for FY2026–FY2030, and requires annual reports to Congress through 2031.
Introduced February 25, 2026 by Pablo José Hernández · Last progress February 25, 2026
Creates a DHS/CISA grant program to fund secure AI-enabled cyber-physical testbeds that simulate grid-scale cyberattacks and allow safe AI training. The agencies must set up the program within 180 days, award grants for FY2026–FY2030, and deliver annual reports to Congress through 2031. The bill authorizes $100 million for those grants and limits eligibility to institutions of higher education, National Laboratories, and consortia of those entities.