119-HR-6429 Journalist Public Summary
119 · HR 6429 Expanding Cybersecurity Workforce Act of 2025
Creates a CISA-run outreach and training effort to bring more people from underrepresented and disadvantaged communities into cybersecurity, backed by a $20M-per-year authorization and annual progress reports.
Headline Summary
A House bill would have CISA launch and fund a nationwide outreach-and-training push to help people from underrepresented and disadvantaged communities enter cybersecurity jobs.
What It Does
H.R. 6429 (Expanding Cybersecurity Workforce Act of 2025) directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to set up a program within its existing Cybersecurity Education and Training Assistance Program to promote cybersecurity careers to disadvantaged groups (including older adults, racial and ethnic minorities, people with certain disabilities, veterans, women, individuals from nontraditional educational paths, and people who were formerly incarcerated). The agency would conduct outreach to educators, unions, chambers of commerce, workforce offices, private employers, community colleges, and even parents of K–12 students; tailor activities by region and industry; and report to Congress annually on results. The bill authorizes $20 million per year from FY2026 through FY2031.
Key Numbers
Who’s For It
- Primary sponsor: Rep. Brown.
- Co-sponsors: 28 Members, predominantly Democrats, including Reps. Stevens, Wasserman Schultz, Norton, Quigley, Kelly (IL), Lynch, Carson, Ansari, Crockett, Beatty, Brownley, Thompson (MS), Landsman, Velázquez, Larsen (WA), Plaskett, Hayes, Min, McBath, Bell, Goldman (NY), Cherfilus-McCormick, Horsford, Johnson (TX), Evans (PA), Foushee, and one Republican, Carter (LA).
- Stated rationale in the bill text: widen awareness and access to cybersecurity careers, tailor efforts to local needs, and track progress via annual reports.
Who’s Against It
- No formal opposition noted yet; the bill was just introduced on December 4, 2025.
- Potential critiques to watch: cost and federal role (the program authorizes ongoing spending), overlap with existing workforce programs, how effectiveness will be measured, and the bill’s specific definitions (for example, “disability” is limited to intellectual or developmental disabilities).
What’s Next
As of December 4, 2025, the bill has been introduced in the House and referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security. Next typical steps are committee hearings and markup, potential cost estimate, and a House floor vote; if it passes, the Senate would then consider it.
Discussion