# Congress Proposes Water Cybersecurity Funding

The proposed Water Safety Shield Act would provide **$600 million annually** for water-sector cybersecurity through a federally coordinated, tiered defense program. The proposal calls for stronger cybersecurity requirements for large utilities and technical and financial assistance for smaller systems. It is a legislative proposal, not an enacted program: the signal identifies no open solicitation or awarded contract.

- If enacted, the proposal could create demand for zero-trust architecture, secure industrial software, vulnerability remediation, and technical support for water utilities.
- Contractors can assess whether their existing capabilities address the proposal’s distinct needs for large utilities and smaller systems, while recognizing that no procurement opportunity is currently open.
- Utilities and prospective suppliers should distinguish the proposed funding and requirements from current contract awards or binding compliance obligations.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Information Technology, Environment
**Topics:** Cybersecurity, Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 05, 2026

### Government Entities
- United States Congress (Congress)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

### Vendors
- Siemens ()
- Schneider Electric ()
- Rockwell Automation ()
- Google ()
- CrowdStrike ()

### Sources
- [The US needs a real plan to defend its water systems | CyberScoop](https://cyberscoop.com/us-water-system-cybersecurity-ai-threats-op-ed) - cyberscoop.com