In an era where cybersecurity threats loom larger than ever, one might expect the federal government’s premier program for developing cybersecurity talent to be a model of efficiency and effectiveness. Instead, the CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS) program represents a concerning case study in government waste, mismanagement, and failure to achieve core objectives despite substantial taxpayer investment.
Since its inception in 2001, the CyberCorps® program has consumed a staggering $621 million in public funds1 — and despite managing the placement of only a few hundred students per year2 — the program consistently fails to meet its fundamental targets. The program’s primary mission—placing qualified cybersecurity professionals in federal executive agencies—remains unfulfilled, with only 64% of recipients securing positions in these agencies against the mandated target of 70%1. This shortfall is not merely a statistic; it represents a significant failure in addressing critical national security needs despite more than two decades of operation and hundreds of millions in expenditures.
Even more troubling is the Government Accountability Office’s finding that the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) are only partially complying with 6 out of 19 legal requirements for the program3. These oversight deficiencies raise serious questions about accountability in a program receiving approximately $55 million in annual appropriations1. When federal agencies fail to fully comply with nearly a third of their legal obligations, taxpayers deserve answers.
The fiscal mismanagement extends beyond mere compliance issues. Between 2016 and 2021, a period during which Congress appropriated approximately $330 million to the program, a concerning $9 million+ was diverted to administrative costs rather than scholarships1. This includes $7.14 million in non-personnel expenditures that could have funded hundreds of additional student scholarships at a time when the nation faces a critical shortage of cybersecurity professionals.
Despite the program’s stated goal of increasing the number of qualified and diverse cybersecurity candidates4, CyberCorps® has failed to significantly impact government cybersecurity workforce diversity. After more than two decades and $621 million in expenditures, program recipients remain predominantly male (72%) and white (71%)12. This homogeneity undermines the program’s effectiveness, as diverse teams have repeatedly been shown to produce more innovative and comprehensive security solutions.
Further evidence of systemic inefficiency can be found in the program’s graduate placement timelines. Only 59% of graduates find employment within 0-3 months after graduation, while 25% take 4-6 months to secure positions5. These delays highlight fundamental disconnects between the program and government employers, despite CyberCorps®’ explicit mission to streamline this pipeline.
The CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service program exemplifies how even well-intentioned government initiatives can devolve into wasteful spending and missed opportunities without proper oversight and accountability. After two decades and more than half a billion dollars, the American taxpayer deserves better than a program that consistently fails to meet its targets, comply with its legal requirements, or effectively address the critical cybersecurity workforce needs of our nation.