House Passes Mace Bill on Fed Job Requirements
WASHINGTON — The House gave its overwhelming bipartisan support Monday night to a bill aimed at modernizing federal cybersecurity job requirements to foster a more diverse and competitive workforce.
The bill, which was introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and co-led by Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., passed 394-1.
“Today, a brilliant computer whiz who drops out of Harvard after a year or two — as Bill Gates did — would stand little chance of securing a federal cybersecurity job,” Mace said in a written statement.
“We often hear from the other side of the aisle that the federal government should be a ‘model employer’ and the elimination of unnecessary degree barriers ensures the federal government is such an employer. We look forward to seeing our bill hopefully signed into law soon,” she said.
The bill would eliminate what Mace and Porter describe as “unnecessary degree barriers for federal cybersecurity jobs,” and focus future hiring decisions directly on skills and qualifications that are directly relevant to the openings in question.
In addition the bill mandates the Office of Personnel Management publish annual progress reports on the reform of education-based qualifications and the formal education levels of new hires in cyber-related positions.
According to a press release from Mace’s office, there is currently a shortage of over 700,000 cybersecurity professionals nationwide.
The measure would put the federal government on the same footing as numerous corporations and states that have already removed unnecessary degree barriers in their hiring processes.
“Government employees should be the best in the business, especially when it comes to our nation’s cybersecurity,” Porter said in a written statement.
“Prospective employees who prove their qualifications and competency shouldn’t be disqualified from a federal job on the basis of one type of educational credential,” she said.
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