SHIELD Act of 2025

This legislation, known as the SHIELD Act of 2025, mandates the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program within 120 days of enactment. The program's primary goal is to develop a comprehensive training curriculum designed to teach members of the Armed Forces how to interact with digital information in a safe and responsible manner. The curriculum will include instruction on identifying various forms of digital content, such as fact-based journalism , disinformation , conspiracy theories , and hate-based ideologies like antisemitism. Participants will also learn to assess the credibility of digital sources, understand the effects of online actions, protect personal information, and recognize information-based threats that could compromise individual security or Department of Defense goals. The pilot program will involve a diverse sample of participants and utilize in-person, virtual, and hybrid training methods equally. The pilot program will run for one year, after which the Secretary must survey participants and instructors to identify areas for improvement and assess information retention. Within 180 days of the program's termination, a report must be submitted to Congress comparing the effectiveness of different delivery methods and providing recommendations for a potential permanent training program, including its frequency and curriculum update cycles.