The Trump administration is redirecting a cybersecurity scholarship program that requires recipients to work in government service toward artificial intelligence, leaving some current program scholars dismayed and bewildered.

In an email to participating school program coordinators obtained by CyberScoop, the Office of Personnel Management and National Science Foundation said the CyberCorps Scholarship For Service program would now be known as CyberAI SFS.

“The SFS students we enroll today will not be employable when they graduate in 2-3 years without significant AI background,” the email reads. “Any SFS student in this new program must be proficient in using AI in cybersecurity or providing security and resilience for AI systems. Therefore, new students in the legacy CyberCorps program must learn to acquire AI expertise to augment their cybersecurity expertise.”

“Effective immediately, new SFS scholars will not be accepted to the Legacy CyberCorps(C) program without a description on how they will develop competencies at the intersection of cybersecurity and AI,” the email continues. “The description of the competency development could include, but are not limited to, formal program 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 said they were “disappointed” by the change for several reasons. As of earlier this week, the agencies collectively running the program — OPM, NSF and the Department of Homeland Security — hadn’t notified any program participants that any changes were on the horizon.

For another: “I was a little bit surprised that it was coming out as so blatantly disregarding the people that haven’t graduated yet, that everyone in my cohort is already considered ‘legacy,’ and the fact that it said people in the program that I’m currently in will not be employable in the coming years,” they said.

The email leaves 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. The scholar told CyberScoop there are around 300 people in this current group.

“I assume it will affect placements,” they said. “I can’t say for sure one way or another, because placements are already so impacted by everything that’s been going on. I don’t know what’s due to lack of AI background and what’s due to everything else.”

Another scholar said it was wrong for OPM “to keep claiming repeatedly that they’re acting in our best interests,” when “we’re left out to dry.” Already, the current group of scholars has been frustrated by their inability to get questions answered.

“If we’re legacy CyberCorps, then how does that address anything?” the scholar asked. “We’re just kind of being shoved into a closet and forgotten about. Now in that email, they were saying that we were going to be unhireable in two years time without all this AI stuff under our belt. But at the same time, almost all of our universities were actively discouraging the use of AI.”

Another part of the email brought welcome news to those scholars: a temporary easing of the program’s requirements, including the 70-20-10 rule that sets targets for jobs in the federal government, state and local governments, and the education sector, as well as the rules for securing an internship.. Even so, scholars say they still haven’t received any direct information about the changes.

A spokesperson for NSF said there have been some misunderstandings about the email to school program coordinators (known as principal investigators), but didn’t address current scholars’ concerns about communication.

“The guidance does not require scholars to possess these competencies upon entry,” said the spokesperson, Michael Englund. “Rather, it requires principal investigators (PIs) to clearly describe how their programs will prepare scholars to develop AI-related competencies by the time they graduate (typically within two to three years). In other words, programs must have a concrete and immediate plan to ensure scholars gain these skills during the course of their studies, not prior to admission.”

A spokesperson for OPM addressed the two biggest concerns of current participants.

“There are no changes to placement requirements,” the spokesperson said. “As noted, NSF’s updates are forward-looking to ensure future cohorts are prepared for evolving workforce needs. NSF has encouraged institutions to use professional development funds to expand AI-related training where needed. At OPM, we are also expanding AI training and have introduced AI ambassadors to support adoption.”

On communication: “Principal investigators (PIs) remain the primary point of contact for scholars, but OPM plans to increase direct outreach and plans to issue follow-up communication to scholars on placement efforts,” the spokesperson said.

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. 

The agency didn’t answer a question about whether that cancellation decision has been reversed as a result.

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The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has informed participants of the federal government’s Scholarship for Service program that it has canceled this year’s summer internship programs due to the current funding issues at the Department of Homeland Security. 

Emails from CISA obtained by CyberScoop recently informed applicants that the agency will not bring any CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service interns onboard this summer due to the impacts of the federal funding lapse and the current administrative situation at DHS. For some applicants, agency representatives acknowledged that the cancellations represent a second consecutive year of disrupted placement efforts.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) leads and manages the program, in coordination with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and DHS. The program covers tuition and provides stipends for students specializing in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. In exchange, graduates must complete an internship and subsequently work in federal service for a period equal to the duration of their scholarship. 

An OPM official told CyberScoop the agency is “actively in contact with all Federal cabinet agencies on this topic, and are confident that we will place nearly all eligible Scholarship for Service participants within the next couple months.”

An NSF spokesperson declined to comment.  CISA did not respond to CyberScoop’s request for comment. 

The sudden closure of agency pipelines highlights how federal job seekers are currently navigating a paralyzed hiring environment, exacerbated by budget turmoil at DHS and proposed workforce reductions under the Trump administration. The White House’s fiscal 2027 budget would slash CISA’s budget by $707 million, according to a summary released earlier this month, which would deeply chop down an agency that already took a big hit in President Donald Trump’s first year.

Sources told CyberScoop Tuesday that CISA has been reaching out to internship applicants who had participated in a virtual job fair held in February, where they were told that the agency would have 100 internship roles available. However, applicants were warned that the agency would not be able to hire anyone until the agency was funded. 

Program participants expressed regret to CyberScoop last November over taking part in an initiative that binds them to an employer currently unable to hire them. Program administrators have reportedly advised students to get creative in their job searches, a directive that caused frustration among participants who rely on standard federal placement pipelines.

In response to the growing backlog of unplaced graduates, OPM announced plans to collaborate with the National Science Foundation on a mass deferment. OPM Director Scott Kupor stated that the deferment will be implemented after the government shutdown resolves, providing graduates additional time to secure qualifying positions.

The structural breakdown of the CyberCorps pipeline presents long-term challenges for the federal government’s ability to recruit technical talent. The United States currently faces an estimated 500,000 open cybersecurity positions. The scholarship program was historically viewed as a reliable mechanism to bypass private-sector wage competition and secure early-career talent for the federal government.

Lawmakers are currently battling over bills that would end the DHS shutdown. 

Tim Starks contributed to this story. 

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The Office of Personnel Management plans to collaborate on a “mass deferment” for a cyber scholarship-for-service program after the government shutdown ends, a spokesman said Monday, as scholarship recipients have sounded fears about being on the hook for their schooling costs during federal hiring freezes and budget cuts.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) leads and manages the CyberCorps: Scholarship-For-Service (SFS) program, in coordination with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Department of Homeland Security. Participants in the program must get an internship with the government, then serve in a government position within 18 months of graduation. Those who cannot meet the terms must repay the government in the form of loans.

“After the shutdown ends, OPM will collaborate with NSF on a mass deferment to give graduates more time to secure qualifying positions and further guidance to encourage agencies to make use of the SFS program for their hiring needs,” the OPM spokesperson, McLaurine Pinover, told CyberScoop.

The agency also provided a statement from OPM Director Scott Kupor.

“Bringing top cybersecurity and AI talent into the federal government are critical to our national security. Scholarships for Service is an innovative program that covers the tuition for students who specialize in these areas in exchange for a federal service commitment,” he said. “OPM is committed to the success of SFS and is working closely with the National Science Foundation to ensure CyberCorps participants are supported during this challenging time. Once the shutdown ends, we will issue guidance to agencies encouraging them to fully leverage the program to bring these highly skilled professionals into public service.”

The National Science Foundation has not yet responded to questions about the program, with an automated email saying “most National Science Foundation staff will not be receiving or responding to email until further notice” during the shutdown, which shows few signs of resolving.

The OPM remarks come shortly after program participants told news outlets, including CyberScoop, about their concerns regarding potentially having to repay the government sums of upwards of $100,000, since they said hiring freezes and budget cuts under the Trump administration have made seeking federal employment significantly more difficult.

Current participants also have criticized program overseers for their communications about job fairs, assistance and related activities.

“No scholars have been sent to repayment,” Pinover said. “OPM continues to communicate with scholars, reminding them of their service obligations and sharing resources — including qualifying state, local, tribal, and territorial opportunities — to help them meet those obligations.”

The participants who spoke to CyberScoop about OPM’s plans had mixed opinions. One noted that until there was something in writing, the gesture seemed “performative.” A couple said they didn’t like OPM tying its plans to the end of the shutdown, because they thought it politicized their situation amid the standoff between Republicans and Democrats.

An organizer of the informal group of SFS students said they appreciated getting a response and for “the first piece of substantial information that’s come out of the SFS office in months,” but still had concerns.

“Post-shutdown deferments will do little to help our situation — our biggest blocker is the crusade against federal hiring and public sector cybersecurity overall,” the organizer said. Still, they continued, “please, let’s keep the conversation going.”

Updated 11/4/25: to include participant responses to the OPM plans.

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A landmark program that offers scholarships in exchange for federal service is threatening to saddle students with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of debt amid hiring freezes and budget cuts, raising questions about the future of an initiative proponents say has helped close the government’s cyber workforce gap.

Some CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service participants have had federal agency job and internship offers rescinded this year due to cutbacks and freezes. It’s a condition of their scholarship contract that they must work for the government: Those who can’t find employment there will see their grants, often reaching six-figure sums, converted into loans after 18 months.

Numerous participants who spoke to CyberScoop said they regret signing up for the program, and wouldn’t have done so if they knew then what they know now about the government fulfilling its side of the bargain. They also criticized the communication from the agencies overseeing the program, saying it has been difficult to get clear information about how to fulfill their service obligations or receive updates about job fairs connected to the program. Additionally, they expressed frustration over being told to “get creative” in their job searches, as one email suggested.

One participant said that if CyberCorps can’t meet its obligations due to the federal personnel reductions, it should consider ending the program. The Trump administration has proposed cutting funding for it by 65% in fiscal 2026. And policy experts who have worked to build up the program are fearful about what the current woes mean for future participants.

“I feel like I’ve put my future in jeopardy, my entire future, and I’ve risked lifelong debt because of the whims of someone else,” said a master’s degree student who got a scholarship through CyberCorps. “Whenever my school has brought on a new cohort of students, I cringe at the thought of it, because it’s just more people who are dancing with lifelong debt and possibly no careers.”

While past federal government shutdowns have thrown temporary wrenches into CyberCorps participants’ job hunts, the current environment for federal jobseekers appears to present more enduring challenges. 

“It wasn’t really a concern that people would be able to land [a job] and pay back their debt to the government through time and service,” said Nick Leiserson, senior vice president for policy at the Institute for Security and Technology think tank, and a former Hill aide whose boss, then-Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., was a big supporter of CyberCorps. “And now that has been shaken, and I don’t know how you get that trust back.”

Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, was critical of the potentially lengthy impact on the CyberCorps program.

“It’s a bait-and-switch where everyone loses, and it will frustrate future efforts to recruit cyber talent into the government,” he said. “The consequences will be felt for decades.”

CyberCorps’ track record

CyberCorps sprang into existence in 2000 in response to a 1998 presidential directive. Since then, the program has had between 4,000 and 5,000 participants, said Mark Montgomery, who worked on the legislation that formalized the program’s creation.

The National Science Foundation and Office of Personnel Management jointly operate the program. An email from NSF said the agency wouldn’t be responding to messages during the current government shutdown. After publication of this story, OPM Director Scott Kupor provided a statement to CyberScoop.

“Bringing top cybersecurity and AI talent into the federal government are critical to our national security. Scholarships for Service is an innovative program that covers the tuition for students who specialize in these areas in exchange for a federal service commitment,” he said. “OPM is committed to the success of SFS and is working closely with the National Science Foundation to ensure CyberCorps participants are supported during this challenging time. Once the shutdown ends, we will issue guidance to agencies encouraging them to fully leverage the program to bring these highly skilled professionals into public service.”

Graduates must get at least one internship with, and then work in the federal government for a period of time equal to the length of their scholarship, although a relatively small percentage are permitted to seek positions in state or local government. (Participants say cyber jobs have been just as few and far between there.) In addition to the scholarships, students also receive stipends.

The internships give students and agencies a chance to determine whether they want to keep working together, and their security clearances are processed ahead of time. “That produces tailored, ready cyber warriors for the federal government,” said Montgomery, now senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank.

It also gives the federal government a talent pipeline it wouldn’t otherwise have, Leiserson said. While some of the participants CyberScoop spoke to said they had already aspired to government service, some said it wasn’t on their radar prior to signing up for CyberCorps, which they viewed instead as a means to an end: paying for their education.

There have been relatively few criticisms of CyberCorps or how it’s administered. Henry Young, senior director of policy for the Business Software Alliance, said he viewed CyberCorps more as a relatively small piece of the workforce development pie that needs to include more K-12 education, a focus on other federal programs and more coordination with industry. There are an estimated 500,000 cyber jobs open in the United States.

“It’s a well-meaning and reasonable effort to try and recruit more cybersecurity workers to federal, state and local governments,” Young said. “And I think it is probably working, but not really at the scale of the challenge.”

Student experiences

In response to the current administration’s workforce policies, a group of students have informally organized to seek solutions to their looming debt dilemma; an organizer said there were more than 200 who had joined forces. They say they’ve been frustrated to date in their lobbying to agencies and lawmakers. CyberScoop granted several current participants anonymity to speak about their experiences because they fear potential retaliation as they continue seeking employment.

Some of them are creeping up on the 18-month deadline. One had a job offer rescinded this spring. Another had an internship offer pulled.

Past participants received regular communications about openings that were more prolific in prior years, emails show. A recurring theme among current participants CyberScoop spoke with is criticism of what they see as a lack of assistance or even communication about activities that were once common, like job fairs. For example, they were told to expect a job fair in October to replace the annual January event that was canceled, but the October fair never took place.

Participants say that even when job fairs have been held, they have not been as helpful as in the past, despite attending multiple fairs. A September job fair that participants were “strongly encouraged” to participate in included agencies that didn’t have any roles to fill, and for the others, “the majority of the roles offered were not aligned with cybersecurity, and were not qualified as roles that would count towards our SFS work obligation period,” one program participant wrote.

In-person fairs converted to virtual fairs are a bad option, some said. One said they waited stuck in a queue at a virtual fair for hours only to be told the agency had no openings. 

At the same time, participants have bristled at emails like one in July that urged students to “Get creative in your search!”

Some of the participants were interested in cybersecurity because they were drawn to the technical aspects of working with computers. Others said they felt compelled to join by a desire to do good in the world and protect others.

Some were attracted to government work specifically. That’s made the current situation a deflating experience, one said.

“I am less optimistic about working for the government now than I was before,” a participant said. “It’s just the way they’re treating their employees. It kind of feels like I’m walking into a trap, like they want to fire me more than they want to hire me right now.”

What can be done

There are few alternatives available to CyberCorps participants who aren’t able to find federal employment. They could pursue additional degrees, like a Ph.D, but that doesn’t relieve them of their obligation — it just pushes it back. One participant CyberScoop spoke to was able to get a “research exception” that allows them to study a topic at their school in lieu of the obligation.

Going into the military — potentially for a lengthy term of service — could give students an option to repay the loans, but that’s not an option that anyone who CyberScoop spoke to wanted to pursue.

“We have already experienced federal priorities being ‘shifted’ — multiple of my peers report being forced to transition into immigration work during Summer internships and co-ops, when that was not in the original scope of their work,” one wrote.

One participant struggled with the notion of pursuing a private-sector job, which would potentially offer higher wages that would pay off a loan. But in addition to worrying about fierce competition for those roles, they felt pangs of guilt about the idea of accepting such a role after agreeing to work for the government, and whether it would cause blowback on their university.

Some participants had ideas about how to solve the current dilemma. They suggested things like waiving the payback requirement for students who simply couldn’t fill job openings (they’re competing with each other for those jobs, as well as competing with more seasoned jobseekers); making it a condition of the program that if a scholarship is offered, a job exists for a participant to fill; or simply retiring the program.

Montgomery said Congress could appropriate money for the program beyond what the Trump White House’s fiscal 2026 budget sought. And there’s the possibility that jobs cut as part of the early 2025 Department of Government Efficiency reductions could be reversed.

“I can’t guarantee it, but I think the excesses of DOGE will be walked back,” he said.

Thompson called on the Trump administration to act.

“The Trump administration keeps pretending that cybersecurity is a top priority, but everything they do tells us that it’s a lie,” he said. “Actions matter more than words, and if this Administration wants us to believe they care about cybersecurity, they should act to get CyberCorps back on track.”

Updated, 11/3/25: to include comment from the director of OPM.

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