Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Expansion Act

Key Points

• This bill creates a new apprenticeship program at the Department of Homeland Security to help people start careers in cybersecurity. The program will hire up to 25 people each year and provide them with the skills needed for government tech jobs.
• Veterans and military spouses would get access to free cybersecurity training. This program includes online classes and hands-on learning to help them earn professional certificates and find steady work after their military service ends.
• People who finish the apprenticeship must agree to work for the federal government for a set amount of time. If they leave their government job early, they may have to pay back the cost of their training.
• The government is currently facing a massive shortage of tech workers, with about 500,000 open cybersecurity jobs across the country. This plan aims to fill those gaps by recruiting more women, minorities, and people from underrepresented communities.
• The programs are set to begin within three years of the bill becoming law and will run for five years. During that time, officials will track how many people finish the training and how much their salaries increase in their new careers.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.