A bipartisan bill designed to bolster science education and cybersecurity programs within various federal agencies was introduced in the U.S. Senate this week.
The Harvesting American Cybersecurity Knowledge through Education (HACKED) Act Incentivize recruitment of cybersecurity educators within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Department of Transportation. It would also align education and training with the cybersecurity workforce needs, clear paths in the cybersecurity workforce for cybersecurity professionals to advance their careers, and improve cybersecurity awareness guidelines for federal agencies.
Also, it would increase coordination in federal cybersecurity workforce programs through a new Office of Science and Technology Policy working group.
“Cybersecurity risks are constant in the growing digital world. It is critical that the United States stay ahead of malicious cyber activity with a workforce that can safeguard our innovation, research, and work environments,” U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, said. “This legislation is an important first step to expand the cybersecurity workforce and provide tools to support necessary education and training.”
It was also sponsored by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member on the committee, John Thune (R-SD), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).
“America is facing serious cyber threats every day in today’s increasingly connected world, yet there is a serious shortage of workers needed to confront this urgent challenge,” Cantwell said. There are currently 300,000 vacancies in our cyber workforce nationwide, including 6300 in my home state of Washington. The bipartisan HACKED Act of 2019 would help address this by training cybersecurity educators and skilling American workers to do these jobs, as well as increasing coordination on these issues throughout the government.”
Rosen added that the country is experiencing a shortage in its cybersecurity workforce.
“This legislation makes investments in federal cybersecurity programs and will help us fill the gaps in our cyber-defense. We must continue to prioritize forward-thinking solutions that provide our businesses, communities, and government with the skilled workforce they need to strengthen our nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure and protect Americans’ data from bad actors,” Rosen said.