U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), John Hoeven (R-ND), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) recently applauded the enactment of their legislation to recruit, develop and retain skilled cybersecurity professionals in the federal workforce.
The Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act became law in the wake of federal government agencies facing increased cyber threats while struggling to hire and retain qualified cybersecurity employees.
“A strong national security posture is impossible without a strong cyber workforce. To effectively combat ongoing threats, we must have highly skilled, federal IT professionals who can safeguard our networks,” Peters, chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said. “This new law will help ensure there is a pipeline of talented and qualified cybersecurity professionals who can protect our systems and prevent bad actors from stealing sensitive data and compromising national security.”
The measure creates a civilian personnel rotation program for cybersecurity professionals at federal agencies. It also enables employees to spend time working at different government agencies, gaining experience beyond their primary assignment.
“Cyber attacks targeting our nation continue to grow in frequency and complexity, and it is essential that we stay ahead of our adversaries and others who seek to illegally access and disable critical systems, including those run by federal agencies,” Hoeven said. “That’s why we advanced this legislation to improve career opportunities for cybersecurity professionals, including those in the private sector, who want to bring their expertise to the federal government.”
Rosen, a former computer programmer, said the law would help fill the gaps in the nation’s cyber workforce and better protect against potentially debilitating cyberattacks.