Expanding Mental Health Access for Cyber Command Personnel Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3]
- Committees
- Armed Services Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Dec 11, 2025
Bottom line
The bill mandates increased access to cleared mental health professionals for the Cyber Mission Force to address work-related stress and behavioral health challenges.
What it actually does
This bill directs the Department of Defense (DoD) to establish an initiative within one year to address the occupational resiliency challenges of the Cyber Mission Force. The initiative requires assigning behavioral health professionals with appropriate security clearances to Cyber Command operating locations. It also mandates annual briefings to Congress for three years on the initiative's status, clinical acuity treated, challenges, and awareness efforts.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that members of the Cyber Mission Force face unique and intense occupational stressors that necessitate specialized and secure mental health support. Providing cleared behavioral health professionals directly at their operating locations will ensure timely and confidential access to care, improving readiness, retention, and overall well-being for these critical personnel.
Opponents contend
Critics might contend that while the intent is good, the practical challenges of recruiting and retaining behavioral health professionals with high-level security clearances could make implementation difficult and costly. They might also argue that existing DoD mental health services could be expanded or adapted, rather than creating a new, potentially duplicative initiative, or that a broader approach to military mental health is needed.
The bill is very short and clear, making it highly accessible for a reader to understand its core provisions quickly.
Section 2(a)
Establishment of Occupational Resiliency Initiative for Cyber Mission Force
This provision directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, in collaboration with military department Principal Cyber Advisors and the Commander of U.S. Cyber Command, to launch an initiative within one year. The core of this initiative is to ensure that behavioral health professionals are assigned to the operational sites of the U.S. Cyber Command and the Cyber Mission Force. Crucially, these professionals must possess the necessary security clearances to treat service members in these sensitive environments.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that this provision directly addresses a critical gap in mental health support for a highly specialized and stressed military population. By ensuring professionals are cleared and co-located, it removes barriers to care, fosters trust, and enhances the overall readiness and resilience of the Cyber Mission Force, which is vital for national security.
Critics contend
Critics might argue that while the goal is laudable, the practicalities of finding and retaining sufficient numbers of behavioral health professionals with the required top-secret clearances could be extremely challenging and expensive. This could lead to delays in implementation or a shortage of qualified personnel, potentially diverting resources from other critical mental health programs.
Tradeoffs
This provision balances the urgent need for specialized mental health support for a high-stress military unit against the significant logistical and financial challenges of recruiting and maintaining a workforce with specific security clearances. It also highlights the tension between providing targeted care and integrating mental health services more broadly across the military.
Section 2(b)
Annual Briefings to Congress
This section mandates that for three years, starting one year after the bill's enactment, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy must provide annual briefings to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees. These briefings will cover the progress of the initiative, verification of security clearances for the assigned professionals, an analysis of the types of clinical issues being treated, any challenges encountered, and efforts to raise awareness among Cyber Mission Force members about the availability of these services.