Senators Propose Bill To Strengthen U.S. Cybersecurity Workforce

U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity member Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced a bipartisan bill titled the Cyber Centers of Excellence Partnership Act on September 24 to strengthen the U.S. cybersecurity workforce.

The bill proposes a partnership between the Pentagon and universities designated as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, in which researchers and military units can collaborate, share research and best practices, and provide students a direct pathway to federal cybersecurity careers.

“As technological advancements become more heavily integrated into modern warfare, it is more important than ever that our nation has the talent and personnel needed to handle looming threats,” Rosen said. “This bipartisan bill would ensure that our military and top universities can keep up with every wave of ever-changing cyber threats, while also attracting the country’s most talented young minds and bolstering our cyber-ready workforce.”

If enacted, the bill calls for the U.S. secretary of defense to establish a program under the Defense Cyber Workforce Framework to assess the feasibility of partnering advanced cyberspace operations with higher education institutions. According to the bill, the program will establish “a research cell supporting aggressor operations through open-source intelligence, emerging threat analysis and development of adversary emulation playbooks.”

“American military dominance depends on our nation’s ability to operate in cyberspace, making it essential to maintain a robust cybersecurity workforce. I’m proud to work across the aisle with Senator Rosen to strengthen the pipeline of cyber talent by establishing programs where students in our nation’s NSA-designated Centers of Academic Excellence can get real-world experience conducting critical cyber operations in defense of our homeland,” Budd said.