---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 18995"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "18995"
heading: "Cyber workforce development research and development"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/18995"
units:
  - "Chapter 163 — Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation"
  - "Subchapter III — National Science Foundation for the Future"
  - "Part B — STEM Education"
---

# §18995. Cyber workforce development research and development

- (a) **In general—** The [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1) shall make awards on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis to institutions of higher education or [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organizations (or consortia of such institutions or organizations) to carry out research on the cyber workforce.
- (b) **Research—** In carrying out research pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a), the [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1) shall support research and development activities to—
  - (1) understand the current [state](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) of the cyber workforce, including factors that influence growth, retention, and development of that workforce;
  - (2) examine paths to entry and re-entry into the cyber workforce;
  - (3) understand trends of the cyber workforce, including demographic representation, educational and professional backgrounds present, competencies available, and factors that shape employee recruitment, development, and retention and how to increase the size, diversity, and capability of the cyber workforce;
  - (4) examine and evaluate training [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19), models, programs, and technologies; and
  - (5) other closely related topics as the [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1) determines appropriate.
- (c) **Requirements—** In carrying out the activities described in [subsection (b)](#b), the [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1) shall—
  - (1) collaborate with the National [Institute](/usc/42/18921.md?p=4) of Standards and Technology, including the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, the [Department](/usc/42/19291.md?p=2) of Homeland Security, the [Department](/usc/42/19291.md?p=2) of Defense, the Office of Personnel Management, and other Federal [departments](/usc/42/19291.md?p=2) and [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), as appropriate;
  - (2) align with or build on the National Initiative on Cybersecurity Education Cybersecurity Workforce [Framework](/usc/42/18921.md?p=3) wherever practicable and applicable;
  - (3) leverage the collective body of knowledge from existing cyber workforce development research and education activities; and
  - (4) engage with other Federal [departments](/usc/42/19291.md?p=2) and [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), research communities, and potential users of information produced under this subsection.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title III, § 10315, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1530.)