Two U.S. House Representatives introduced the Federal Cyber Workforce Training Act of 2025, requiring the National Cyber Director to submit a plan to Congress to create a centralized Federal institute dedicated to federal cyber workforce development. The proposed institute would serve as a national hub for training, resources, and talent cultivation across federal agencies.
Introduced by Representatives Pat Fallon of Texas and Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, the proposed legislation aims to strengthen the federal cyber workforce by ensuring better onboarding by providing modular, work role-specific training. This includes hands-on learning and skill-based assessments designed to prepare individuals from diverse academic and professional backgrounds for federal cybersecurity roles. It also seeks to set standards by coordinating with agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense (DoD) to develop curriculum tailored to specific cyber roles.
The bill also seeks to maintain a sustainable career track that prioritizes training for entry-level positions, while also supporting curriculum development for mid-career transitions. This includes upskilling and reskilling initiatives for existing federal cyber personnel. Finally, the legislation proposes bolstering recruitment efforts by developing specialized training modules for federal talent management personnel, helping them better understand the unique challenges of hiring and retaining cyber professionals within the federal government.
“This legislation modernizes our approach to building a robust cyber workforce by streamlining onboarding with hands-on, role-specific training and sets high standards via DHS and DOD collaboration,” Fallon said in a media statement. “By fostering sustainable career paths and bolstering recruitment with specialized talent management modules, we are taking necessary steps to fortify our defenses against escalating cyber threats.”
“The cyber threats against our nation are serious. This bipartisan legislation will help us to mount a defense against malign actors by bolstering and enhancing cyber training,” according to Kaptur. “This bipartisan legislation, developed with Congressman Fallon, seeks to modernize cyber workforce development through streamlined onboarding training, raising the bar for the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense.”
She added that the objective is to develop a framework that fosters the highest levels of excellence in cybersecurity for professionals serving on the front lines of national defense.
Components of the proposed legislation
The plan for establishing a Federal institute seeks to provide a modularized, cyber work role-specific training, including hands-on learning and skill-based assessments, to prepare newly hired federal personnel from various academic and professional backgrounds to perform effectively in federal cyber work roles. It also intends to coordinate with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other agencies determined necessary by the Director to develop a cyber work role-specific curriculum for the training provided.
The bill also aims to prioritize entry-level positions in the provision of curriculum development and training; address the training needs of personnel seeking transition to mid-career positions and personnel with responsibilities for human resources functions relating to cyber personnel; and include curriculum development and training for federal cyber workers seeking transition to mid-career positions, which may include upskilling and reskilling efforts.
It also aims to consider developing a specific module to familiarize and train appropriate federal government hiring managers and human resources staff in the unique challenges in recruiting and hiring personnel for federal cyber workforce roles, and incorporating work-based learning in personnel training.
Additionally, the legislation intends to develop a badging system to communicate qualification and proficiency for individuals who complete training through the Federal institute, with consideration of systems used by the intelligence community; offer in-person and virtual options to accommodate various learning environments for individuals; and provide training to individuals irrespective of whether an individual has a college degree or a degree in a cyber-related discipline.
The plan shall recommend an organizational placement for the Federal institute, which may include a single agency or a combination of agencies; to the greatest extent practicable, align training and tools, including cyber work roles and competencies, and the associated tasks, knowledge, and skills. It shall also identify elements of the Federal institute and its functions that could use existing facilities, resources, and programs of the federal government; and elements of the Federal institute and its functions that would require new facilities, resources, and programs of the federal government to implement the plan.
Among other requirements, the bill also calls for identifying how the instructors of the Federal institute will remain current concerning cybersecurity knowledge, skills, and abilities through scholarship or other means; and identify how the Federal institute will maintain the quality and longevity of instructors.
In developing a plan for the Federal institute, the National Cyber Director shall consult with the director of the Office of Personnel Management, the Chief Human Capital Officers Council, the Chief Information Officers Council, and the Chief Learning Officers Council to establish tools for human resources professionals of the federal government to develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to manage the career life cycle of cyber professionals from recruitment to retirement.
The legislation said that not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on the plan required, including an estimate of the funding and the authorities necessary to implement the plan.
About a year back, House Representatives introduced a bill to create a program within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to encourage underrepresented and disadvantaged communities to pursue careers in cybersecurity. Titled ‘Diverse Cybersecurity Workforce Act,’ the bill requires the CISA to expand existing education and outreach activities and promote cybersecurity careers to a diverse audience, and was introduced with 32 other cosponsors.
