U.S. Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), chair of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, has reintroduced the Cyber PIVOTT Act to address the country’s cybersecurity workforce shortage.
First introduced in the 118th Congress, the Cyber PIVOTT Act would establish a new full-scholarship program for two-year degrees, primarily at community colleges and technical colleges, that are granted in exchange of government service. Officials said the legislation would help bolster the cybersecurity workforce as threats to our networks are on the rise.
Companion legislation will be introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD).
“After numerous alarming intrusions into government networks and critical infrastructure, today’s reintroduction of the ‘Cyber PIVOTT Act’ alongside Senator Rounds could not come at a more consequential time. With half a million vacant cybersecurity positions in the country, the threats facing our nation in cyberspace are far too urgent and sophisticated for our current cybersecurity workforce to combat,” Green said on Feb. 5.
The legislation would create a new, ROTC-like program to be operated by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), in exchange for required government service at the federal, state, local, tribal or territorial level, and would target entry-level cyber talent.
The legislation has support from the industry as well with Palo Alto Networks, Business Software Alliance (BSA), the Internet Security Alliance, R Street Institute, the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2), the National Rural Electric Coop Association (NRECA), the Cyber Innovation Center and CYBER.ORG, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Association of Community Colleges, and Microsoft, among others.