The Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Expansion Act has been reintroduced in the House as part of a bipartisan, bicameral effort to strengthen the nation’s cyber defenses and cybersecurity workforce by creating two new training programs within the Federal government.
The legislation calls for a cybersecurity registered apprenticeship program in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and a pilot program housed in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to give cybersecurity training to veterans.
The House bill was reintroduced by Reps. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Penn., and Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., on Nov. 30. Rep Houlahan first introduced this bill in the 117th Congress.
“Reports of cyber attacks continue to rise, and we must respond accordingly to protect businesses, sensitive personal data, and ultimately our national security,” Rep. Houlahan said in a statement. “Security breaches have far-reaching implications – small businesses may have to halt operations, Pennsylvanians could have their identity stolen, or worse. Thankfully, our bipartisan, bicameral bill will help train veterans and other Americans to be the next generation of cyber defense professionals.”
“There is a crippling shortage of cybersecurity workers that is leaving private companies and the federal government increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats,” said Rep. Gallagher. “By creating programs that provide veterans with the skills they need to help protect this country in the cyber domain, this bill is an innovative way to bolster our nation’s cyber defenses and strengthen the federal cyber workforce while giving veterans an opportunity to continue serving their country.”
Sens. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H. and John Cornyn, R-Texas, also reintroduced the Senate companion bill earlier this year. It passed out of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (HSGAC) in July with a vote of 10-1. The bill has not yet received a vote on the Senate floor.
“Our national cybersecurity infrastructure is woefully lacking, as evidenced by the SolarWinds breach,” Sen. Hassan said in a statement when she first introduced the bill in 2021. “To bolster our cyber defenses and protect our critical infrastructure, we need to increase the number of cybersecurity professionals in the federal government.”
The Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Expansion Act advanced through the Senate HSGAC last Congress, but never made it to a vote on the Senate floor.
