Digital Skills for Today’s Workforce Act
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeMr. Vindman (for himself and Mr. Valadao) introduced the following …
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill creates a new grant program to help Americans develop digital workplace skills. It establishes two funding mechanisms: (1) formula grants to all states based on population and need, and (2) competitive grants to eligible organizations. The goal is to prepare workers for jobs requiring digital skills and help those with barriers to employment gain the technology competencies needed in today's economy.
Who Benefits and How
Workers seeking digital skills training benefit through new free or subsidized training programs. Workforce development organizations, community colleges, adult education providers, and industry partnerships can receive grant funding to develop and deliver digital skills curricula. States receive formula-based grants to distribute to local training providers. Small and medium-sized employers benefit from a workforce with improved digital skills.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Department of Labor must administer the grant programs, review applications, and monitor performance. States must apply for grants, distribute subgrants to eligible entities, and submit performance reports. Grant recipients face reporting requirements and must protect participant privacy. Federal appropriations are required to fund the program.
Key Provisions
- Creates formula grants to states based on population, working-age residents, and low digital literacy indicators
- Establishes competitive grants for digital skills curriculum development and training programs
- Prioritizes individuals with barriers to employment
- Requires alignment with State Digital Equity Plans
- Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2026-2030
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
Amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to establish a Digital Skills at Work grant program, providing formula grants to states and competitive grants to eligible entities to expand digital workplace skills training for job seekers and workers with barriers to employment
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"Expand federal workforce development programs to address the digital skills gap by amending the existing WIOA framework rather than creating a standalone program"
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Labor
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
Evidence-informed strategies that support adult learners and workers in obtaining in-demand skills and credentials in an accelerated fashion, including integrated education and training, bridge programs, and work-based learning programs
The condition in which individuals and communities have the information technology capacity that is needed for full participation in the society and economy of the United States
Skills associated with using technology to find, evaluate, organize, create, and communicate information; recognizing information needs and assessing reliability; and developing digital citizenship
For individuals: having awareness, skills, agility, and confidence to adapt to changing digital skill demands. For systems: having processes to adapt to technological demands and offering multiple pathways to economic success
The broad array of foundational and specialized skills that enable an individual to be an effective user or creator of technology while on the job, including industry-specific and transferable skills
An entity described in the Digital Equity Act of 2021 section 60304(b)(2)(A)-(H) or an industry or sector partnership
A state resident with: educational attainment of not more than high school diploma; earnings in bottom 2 quintiles; or limited English language proficiency
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology