Lawmakers look to create cyber training programs at CISA, VA

Written by Dave Nyczepir
June 25, 2021 | FEDSCOOP

Legislators want to create cyber training programs at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Department of Veterans Affairs to strengthen the federal workforce through laws introduced on Friday.

The federal law on the expansion of cybersecurity personnel would initiate a registered apprenticeship training with the KAG and a veteran training pilot with the VA with costs to be determined.

Recent supply chain attacks like the SolarWinds hack, targeting government agencies through a government contractor, have underscored the federal cyber talent shortage with more than 500,000 job openings nationwide, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

“To strengthen our cyber defenses and protect our critical infrastructure, we need to increase the number of cybersecurity experts in the federal government,” Senator Maggie Hassan, DN.H., said in a statement. “This bipartisan bill will also help address the workforce challenges in the veteran community by establishing a cyber training program at the VA to help veterans find well-paid, stable jobs, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation. ”

Hassan, chair of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight, co-sponsors the bill with Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas.

Should the bill go into effect, CISA would have two years to set up at least one apprenticeship program leading to employment with the agency or a national cybersecurity company, largely through a contract, grant or collaboration agreement with the Agency is funded. The program must also meet CISA’s cyber work role requirements and be registered with the Department of Labor Education Office or similar government agency.

DOL, NIST, the Pentagon, the National Science Foundation, and the Office of Personnel Management are expected to share resources with CISA that may provide grants or collaborative arrangements to companies or other entities to conduct the program.

CISA would also have to report to Congress every two years on the results of the program, including the retention rate, and provide annual performance reports.

Under the law, the VA would have a year to create a pilot program that would provide cyber training with virtual platforms, hands-on skills labs and assessments, and state job opportunities. Graduates would be given cyber credentials.

The program is expected to be in line with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) NIST workforce framework, and the VA would work with the Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security, DOL and OPM to make it a reality to implement. Veterans and retired service members would be eligible.

A 2019 report by the Government Accountability Office examined the shortage of federal cyber talent. In May 2021, DHS announced a 60-day sprint to hire 200 cyber workers – 100 of them at CISA.

source https://collegeeducationnewsllc.com/lawmakers-look-to-create-cyber-training-programs-at-cisa-va/