Summary

Creates new incentives to grow the U.S. cybersecurity workforce, especially for modern manufacturing and other critical industries. Employers get a new tax credit to cover half the cost (up to $5,000 per worker per year) when they pay for employees to earn cybersecurity degrees, certificates, or industry certifications aligned to the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework. Offers limited student loan relief for cybersecurity workers who spend substantial time working in economically distressed areas after the law takes effect. Encourages the National Science Foundation to expand CyberCorps scholarships and ATE program funding. Gives a 5% evaluation score boost in federal contract competitions over $5 million to companies that claimed the new employer cybersecurity education tax credit within the prior three years.

Key Points

• Creates a 50% employer tax credit (up to $5,000 per employee per year) for NICE‑aligned cybersecurity education costs paid by the employer.
• Offers up to $25,000 in Federal Direct Loan cancellation (or remaining balance, if lower) for eligible cybersecurity workers serving in distressed areas after enactment.
• Encourages doubling CyberCorps scholarships starting in FY2026 and adds cybersecurity course instructors to the relevant program language.
• Signals support for increased NSF ATE cyber/IT funding (to at least 110% of FY2024 in FY2026) without making an appropriation.
• Provides a 5% evaluation score boost for federal contract bids over $5 million from firms that recently used the new tax credit.
• Targets workforce needs tied to modern manufacturing, industrial control security, and broader national cybersecurity gaps.
• Prevents stacking with other specified loan‑for‑service programs to avoid duplicate loan benefits.
• Applies new procurement and tax provisions on or after the date of enactment; loan relief requires 36 payments after enactment.

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