SHIELD Act of 2025

This bill sets up a one-year test program in the Department of Defense to teach service members how to handle digital information safely and wisely. The training would help troops spot disinformation, conspiracy theories, and hate-based ideologies; tell the difference between facts and opinions; check if online sources are trustworthy; protect personal information; and think about the impact of what they post or share.

The program must include a mix of troops from different places and backgrounds, use in-person, online, and hybrid classes in equal amounts, survey participants after it ends, and produce a report comparing which training methods worked best and how often future training should happen.

• Who is affected: Members of the U.S. Armed Forces who take part in the pilot training.
• What changes: New training on spotting false or harmful online content, protecting privacy, and reducing risks linked to conspiracy theories and hate-based ideology inside the force.
• When: The Defense Department must start the pilot within 120 days of the bill becoming law; it runs for one year, and a report is due within 180 days after it ends.