Measure bolsters federal cybersecurity workforce

Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), John Hoeven (R-ND), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) recently reintroduced the Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act, which seeks to develop and retain highly-skilled federal workforce cybersecurity professionals.

The senators maintain that agencies throughout the federal government are facing growing cyber threats while struggling to hire and retain qualified cybersecurity employees.

“Recent breaches of our federal cyberinfrastructure, which compromised national security, show that our government needs an integrated federal cyber workforce that has the knowledge and skills to counter increasingly sophisticated threats.” Peters, chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said. “I am proud to reintroduce this common-sense legislation that will strengthen the federal government’s cybersecurity workforce by providing cyber employees unique professional development opportunities while they continue to serve our country.”

The bill would create a civilian personnel rotation program for cybersecurity professionals at federal agencies, enabling employees to serve across multiple government agencies, gain experience beyond their primary assignment, and expand their professional networks.

“Our bipartisan bill will help the federal government train and retain cybersecurity professionals to meet growing demand,” Hoeven said. “By developing a rotational cyber workforce program, this legislation will enable federal employees to serve across multiple government agencies and expand their skills. This is all about ensuring the federal government has the professionals needed to meet our nation’s cybersecurity challenges.”

The legislators noted the bill would also attract and retain cybersecurity experts by offering civilian employees opportunities for career enhancement, professional experience broadening, and fostering collaborative networks by experiencing and contributing to the cyber mission beyond home agencies.