Sponsors (2)
The bill expands DHS cybersecurity training and recruitment—improving ability to fill cyber roles and standardizing skills—while raising the risk of higher federal costs, added administrative burden, and reduced external hiring diversity.
Federal employees (including non-cyber staff) gain voluntary access to DHS-aligned cybersecurity training that can qualify them for cybersecurity jobs at DHS.
DHS will be better able to identify and fill cybersecurity vacancies by tracking training completers and recruiting them into open roles, improving workforce readiness and continuity.
Training is aligned to the NICE Framework and existing federal skilling initiatives, increasing the transferability and standardization of cyber skills for participants.
Taxpayers and federal employees may face higher federal personnel and program costs because the bill expands DHS training and recruitment without specifying new funding.
Priority recruitment of existing DHS employees into cybersecurity roles could reduce opportunities for external hires and potentially narrow the diversity of candidate pools.
New reporting and program requirements will create administrative burdens for DHS staff that could divert time from operational duties.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a DHS on-the-job cybersecurity training program for non-cyber DHS employees (optionally other federal employees) and requires seven years of annual reporting on training and vacancies.
Introduced February 5, 2025 by Sylvester Turner · Last progress February 5, 2025
Establishes a DHS Cybersecurity On-the-Job Training Program to voluntarily train Department employees who are not currently in cybersecurity positions to do cybersecurity work. The program director must develop a curriculum aligned with existing DHS initiatives and the NIST/NICE framework, set participation criteria, and offer training to DHS employees (and optionally other federal employees). For seven years the Director and the Under Secretary for Management must submit specified annual reports tracking training, vacancies, recruitment, and outcomes, and the Under Secretary must adopt policies (including possible continuing service agreements) and conduct outreach to program completers.