Sponsors (2)
The bill increases DHS's ability to grow and standardize its cybersecurity workforce through voluntary training and oversight, but does so while raising costs, adding administrative work, and potentially narrowing external hiring pools.
Federal employees gain voluntary access to DHS-run cybersecurity training that can lead to jobs within DHS, expanding career pathways for current federal staff.
DHS will be better able to fill cybersecurity vacancies by tracking openings and recruiting program completers, improving federal cyber workforce capacity and national cyber readiness.
Training is aligned to the NICE Framework and existing federal skilling initiatives, increasing transferability and standardization of cyber skills across agencies and roles.
Taxpayers and the federal workforce may face higher personnel and program costs because the expansion of DHS training and recruitment lacks a specified funding source.
New reporting and program requirements impose administrative burdens on DHS staff that could divert time from operational cybersecurity duties.
Prioritizing recruitment of current DHS employees into cybersecurity roles may limit hiring from the external labor market and could reduce candidate diversity.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a voluntary DHS on-the-job cybersecurity training program for non-cyber DHS employees, requires NIST/NICE-aligned curriculum and seven years of reporting.
Official title: To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a DHS Cybersecurity On-the-Job Training Program, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 5, 2025 by Sylvester Turner · Last progress February 5, 2025
Creates a voluntary DHS Cybersecurity On-the-Job Training Program to train Department employees who are not currently in cybersecurity positions for cybersecurity work, requires curriculum alignment with NIST/NICE framework, and mandates multi-year reporting on participation, vacancies, and outcomes. The Under Secretary for Management must support recruitment, implement policies (including continuing service agreements), and conduct outreach to program completers, with specific reporting to DHS leadership and Congress for seven years.