Sponsors (2)
The bill invests federal resources to build regional agricultural cybersecurity centers that strengthen supply-chain resilience and train talent, but it creates fiscal costs, potential uneven access for small farms, risks from handling sensitive vulnerability data, and administrative burdens for less-resourced institutions.
Farmers and rural communities will have stronger cyber defenses and better supply-chain resilience through regional centers that develop and share detection, prevention, and response tools and situational awareness.
Students and researchers at eligible colleges will gain funded, hands-on applied R&D and training opportunities using live testbeds and exercises.
Regional workforce capacity for agriculture cybersecurity will grow, creating pathways for hiring skilled cybersecurity personnel in the agricultural sector.
Research and operational testbeds could generate sensitive vulnerability information that, if mishandled, risks exposing agricultural systems to attackers.
Smaller farms and less-resourced stakeholders may not benefit equally if centers concentrate resources or partnerships in better-funded regions, leaving gaps in protection.
Taxpayers will fund roughly $25M per year, which could represent inefficient spending if the program underperforms or duplicates existing efforts.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Introduced June 17, 2025 by Zach Nunn · Last progress June 17, 2025
Creates a federally funded competitive grant program to establish five Regional Agriculture Cybersecurity Centers and a connected national network to strengthen cybersecurity for seed, horticulture, animal agriculture, and the agriculture supply chain. The program is run by the Department of Agriculture (through NIFA) in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security and designates a college or university to coordinate the network; it authorizes $25 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2030.