Three Texas universities have been awarded nearly $6 million in federal grants to strengthen artificial intelligence and cybersecurity workforce development, helping prepare students to defend critical infrastructure against growing cyber threats.
Cornyn announces Federal Grants for Texas Universities
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R) announced that Texas A&M University, The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), and the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) have collectively received nearly $6 million in federal funding to expand artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity education programs.
The grants are intended to help train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals as cyberattacks targeting U.S. critical infrastructure continue to increase.
The funding includes:
- Texas A&M University: $1,997,970
- The University of Texas at El Paso: $1,990,265
- The University of Texas at Dallas: $1,999,998
The grants are funded through the National Science Foundation's CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service (SFS) Program, which supports AI and cybersecurity workforce development for government service.
Supporting America's Cyber Workforce
According to Cornyn, the grants will equip students with the skills needed to defend critical technology systems against cyber threats from foreign adversaries.
Sen. John Cornyn: "We must take steps to defend against cyber attacks by training students with the AI and cybersecurity skills needed to protect our critical technology systems."
Cornyn added that the funding will help Texas expand its cybersecurity workforce by supporting specialized training at some of the state's leading universities.
Sen. Cornyn continued: "This grant will help Texas grow the ranks of cyber professionals by funding specialized training at universities across the nation, including at some of Texas' top academic institutions."
What the funding will support
The grants will:
- Provide specialized training in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
- Support student placement and retention in CyberAI roles within government agencies.
- Advance AI and cybersecurity research while strengthening U.S. national security.
The CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service Program was established under the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014, later expanded through the National Defense Authorization Acts of 2018 and 2021. The program's AI workforce authority was further expanded through the CHIPS and Science Act, legislation Cornyn said he helped negotiate.
