Bill Overview
Title: Cybersecurity Opportunity Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to award grants to specified institutions of higher education for establishing or expanding cybersecurity education programs and opportunities. Eligible institutions include minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities, and grant recipients may use the funds to increase research, education, technical, partnership, and innovation capacity for cybersecurity programs, research, and training experiences.
Sponsors: Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]
Target Audience
Population: People involved with minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities, focusing on cybersecurity education
Estimated Size: 350000
- The bill primarily impacts institutions of higher education that are minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities by enhancing their cybersecurity programs.
- Students enrolled in these cybersecurity programs at the eligible institutions will benefit from improved educational opportunities and resources.
- Faculty and staff at these institutions involved in cybersecurity programs may see increased resources for research, education, and partnership development.
- By increasing cybersecurity educational opportunities, the overall workforce entering the cybersecurity field will also be broader and more diverse, benefiting from these enhanced programs.
Reasoning
- The policy targets a specific subset of the population, namely students, faculty, and staff associated with minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) who are involved in, or could benefit from, strengthened cybersecurity programs.
- Given the importance of cybersecurity in today's digital economy, expanding education in this area may significantly impact participants by enhancing their skills and improving their career prospects in a growing field.
- The broader societal impact would potentially include a more diverse cybersecurity workforce, which could enhance innovation and cover cybersecurity needs for various sectors.
- Costs may limit the number of full-scale program expansions that can be funded, but even partial enhancements could have substantial individual effects.
- The policy is not likely to affect those outside of the education ecosystem directly; however, indirect benefits may flow to the community through increased cybersecurity awareness and potential local economic growth.
Simulated Interviews
Student (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think having improved cybersecurity programs would be great. It would certainly give me more opportunities to learn and prepare for a career in cybersecurity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cybersecurity Professor (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This funding would allow us to broaden our research capabilities and offer more hands-on experiences to the students, which is crucial in cybersecurity education.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Administrative Staff (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Additional resources would make my job easier and also could increase our program's impact, helping our students and the institution to grow.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Private Sector IT Specialist (New York, NY)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I may not directly see the effects, a broader talent pool in cybersecurity could benefit my sector by providing a larger, diverse workforce to draw from.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Graduate Student (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The grant could increase our access to better resources and real-world research opportunities, which are currently limited.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Community College Instructor (Houston, TX)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With increased funding, we could update our curriculum and attract more students by highlighting new technologies and career pathways.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Dean of a Community College (Chicago, IL)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The funding would provide us the leverage needed to partner with local industry leaders, improving job placements for our graduates.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
IT Security Consultant (Miami, FL)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's fantastic. Initiatives like these are crucial for closing the gap in diversity in tech fields, and they'll probably improve younger students' abilities beyond college.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Federal Cybersecurity Analyst (Dallas, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think diversifying the cybersecurity workforce is absolutely necessary, and this act supports that goal. It could also help foster more mentorship opportunities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
High School Counselor (Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This new opportunity could influence more of my students to choose cybersecurity as a path, knowing more support exists at higher education levels for their training.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $230000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $280000000)
Year 2: $230000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $280000000)
Year 3: $230000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $280000000)
Year 5: $230000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $280000000)
Year 10: $230000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $280000000)
Year 100: $230000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $280000000)
Key Considerations
- Success of this policy hinges on effective administration of grants and development of high-quality cybersecurity programs.
- The policy has the potential to increase diversity within the cybersecurity field, which is currently underrepresented in terms of minority groups.
- Ensuring equitable access to these enhanced educational opportunities will be crucial to maximizing benefits across all impacted institutions.