ANCHOR Act

HR 7630, the ANCHOR Act, requires the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop and submit a plan within one year to improve cybersecurity and telecommunications for university-operated ocean research vessels in the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. The plan must assess each vessel’s secure communication needs, cybersecurity risks, required costs (including equipment and training), and implementation timelines, while considering scientific missions and telemedicine access for crew. It also mandates a progress report to Congress two years after the plan’s submission. The bill directly affects research vessels operated by universities and laboratories that receive NSF funding and participate in the U.S. Academic Research Fleet.