A bipartisan group of senators reintroduced legislation this week that would create a cybersecurity personnel rotation program to help grow and retain a highly skilled Federal cyber workforce.
The Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act would allow cybersecurity employees to work across multiple Federal agencies, allowing them to expand their skills and networks.
Additionally, it would “provide opportunities to help attract and retain cybersecurity experts in the Federal government by offering civilian employees opportunities to enhance their careers, broaden their professional experience, and foster collaborative networks by experiencing and contributing to the cyber mission beyond their home agencies,” according to a press release.
Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee Chairman Gary Peters, D-Mich., Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., introduced the latest iteration of the bill, which the Senate unanimously passed last Congress. The Senate bill did not have a counterpart measure in the House.
“Recent breaches of our Federal cyber infrastructure, 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,” said Sen. Peters. “I am proud to reintroduce this commonsense 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 Federal government often struggles to compete with the private sector when it comes to salaries and benefits offered by large tech companies. The senators said they hope the bill will provide more incentives to Federal cyber employees through career development opportunities and the chance to serve the country across multiple agencies.
“Our bipartisan bill will help the Federal government train and retain cybersecurity professionals to meet growing demand,” Sen. 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.”
