Shift in Focus for CyberCorps Scholarship For Service Program
The Trump administration is redirecting the CyberCorps Scholarship For Service program, a cybersecurity scholarship program that requires recipients to work in government service, toward artificial intelligence. This change has left some current program scholars dismayed and bewildered.
In an email to participating school program coordinators, the Office of Personnel Management and National Science Foundation announced that the program would now be known as CyberAI SFS. The email stated that any SFS student in this new program must be proficient in using AI in cybersecurity or providing security and resilience for AI systems.
Requirements for New Students
Effective immediately, new SFS scholars will not be accepted to the Legacy CyberCorps program without a description on how they will develop competencies at the intersection of cybersecurity and AI. This description could include formal programs of study, experimental learning, research activities, capstone projects, competitions, certifications, and/or no-credit professional development via external providers.
One current program scholar graduating soon expressed disappointment with the change, citing the lack of notification and the potential impact on their employability. The scholar said they were surprised that the change was announced without any consideration for current students, who are already considered 'legacy' students.
Uncertainty for Current Scholars
The email has left current scholars uncertain about what will happen as they try to fulfill their side of the agreement, especially since doing so has already been difficult amid cyber job cutbacks and other concerns about how the program has recently been administered. There are around 300 people in this current group, and the scholar told CyberScoop that they assume it will affect placements.
Another scholar said it was wrong for OPM to claim that they are acting in the scholars' best interests when they have been left without clear information or support. The scholar asked, 'If we're legacy CyberCorps, then how does that address anything? We're just kind of being shoved into a closet and forgotten about'.
Response from OPM and NSF
A spokesperson for NSF said there have been some misunderstandings about the email to school program coordinators, but didn't address current scholars' concerns about communication. The spokesperson clarified that the guidance does not require scholars to possess AI-related competencies upon entry, but rather requires principal investigators to clearly describe how their programs will prepare scholars to develop AI-related competencies by the time they graduate.
A spokesperson for OPM addressed the two biggest concerns of current participants, stating that there are no changes to placement requirements and that OPM plans to increase direct outreach and issue follow-up communication to scholars on placement efforts.
Latest Development in the Program
Last week's email is the latest turn for the program, with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency last month declaring that it was canceling summer internships due to the lapse in funding for some DHS agencies. Congress has since provided funding for CISA, but it is unclear whether the cancellation decision has been reversed.
- The Trump administration is shifting the focus of the CyberCorps Scholarship For Service program toward artificial intelligence.
- Current scholars are uncertain about their future employability and the impact of the change on their placements.
- OPM and NSF have clarified the requirements for new students and the guidance for principal investigators.
Source: CyberScoop