# House Introduces AI Cyber Defense Pilot

The U.S. House of Representatives, led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, has introduced the AI Cyber Defense Act to establish a pilot program under the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). This program will provide critical infrastructure operators, especially nonprofit, publicly owned, rural, and small organizations, with free access to advanced AI models and technical assistance to enhance cybersecurity defenses. The legislation authorizes **$100 million in funding from 2027 through 2031** to support this initiative, reflecting a federal commitment to leveraging AI for protecting vital infrastructure against evolving cyber threats.

- The pilot program prioritizes underserved sectors, indicating procurement opportunities for AI cybersecurity technology providers and service contractors.
- CISA will be the primary federal agency managing this program, suggesting potential contract vehicles and partnership avenues.
- Procurement professionals should prepare for upcoming solicitations related to AI cybersecurity tools and support services starting in 2027.
- Organizations serving rural and small infrastructure operators may find increased demand for AI-enabled cybersecurity solutions aligned with this federal initiative.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Public Safety, Information Technology
**Topics:** Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence
**Published:** September 22, 2026

### Government Entities
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- U.S. House of Representatives

### Key Quotes
> Right now federal funding for critical infrastructure has an uncertain future and many of our local communities just don’t have the resources they need to pay for AI tokens to do the patching they need.
> — Josh Gottheimer, U.S. Representative

### Sources
- [After water attacks, Capitol Hill offers its own proposal for an AI-cyber test program | CyberScoop](https://cyberscoop.com/gottheimer-ai-cyber-defense-act-cisa-pilot) - CyberScoop