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MEDIA ADVISORY: Chairman Green Announces Full Committee Hearing on Bolstering America’s Cyber Workforce 

January 30, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Today, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) announced a full Committee hearing for Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET, to examine America’s cyber workforce shortage.

“As our government and critical infrastructure sectors face increasingly sophisticated cyber intrusions from adversaries like China, Congress must prioritize the root of the problem: a significant cybersecurity workforce gap. Time and time again, public and private sector partners have highlighted the need for a fresh perspective on attracting, training, and retaining cyber defenders,” Chairman Green said. “Next week, we will examine this growing challenge with witnesses who work every day to equip and empower skilled professionals. I look forward to continuing my work to ensure all levels of government have the best and brightest on the frontlines of America’s cyber border.”

DETAILS:

What: A House Committee on Homeland Security hearing entitled “Preparing the Pipeline: Examining the State of America’s Cyber Workforce.”

When: Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET

Where: 310 Cannon House Office Building

WITNESSES:

Robert Rashotte

VP Training Institute and Global Engagement, Fortinet

David Russomanno
EVP of Academic Affairs and Provost, University of Memphis

Chris Jones
President and CEO, Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corp

Max Stier
President and CEO, Partnership for Public Service

Witness testimony can be found here.

BACKGROUND: 

Last Congress, Chairman Green introduced the “Providing Individuals Various Opportunities for Technical Training (PIVOTT) to Build a Skills-Based Cyber Workforce Act of 2024,” or the “Cyber PIVOTT Act.” This legislation would increase the accessibility of cyber training and education by establishing a new full-scholarship program for two-year degrees, including at community colleges and technical schools, which are granted in exchange for required government service.

Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure increased 30 percent globally in 2023. Recent incidents such as the intrusion into the U.S. Treasury Department by an actor dubbed by Microsoft as “Silk Typhoon,” heightened influence campaigns by Iranian-backed actors, and ransomware attacks on healthcare providers have underscored the vulnerability of critical systems across sectors. Federal agencies alone experience thousands of cyber incidents yearly, each with mounting sophistication and frequency. 

There are roughly 500,000 open cybersecurity positions across the United States.

  • The United States has seen a 17 percent increase in its cyber workforce gap but only an 11 percent increase in its cyber workforce. Among workers surveyed, 57 percent say staffing shortages caused by this discrepancy puts them at a “moderate or extreme risk of cybersecurity attacks” which “decrease their ability to perform critical, careful risk assessment and remain agile amid a challenging threat landscape.” 
  • In a national survey, 75 percent of cyber workers said the “current threat landscape is the most challenging it has been in the past five years.” Yet, only 52 percent felt that their organization had the resources required to respond to cyber incidents over the next few years. 
  • More workers are also entering the cyber field later in their careers. Whereas  46 percent of new cyber workers  entered the field with a relevant bachelor’s degree, 63 percent of tenured cyber workers held IT positions before entering cybersecurity. Federal cyber workers also tend to have a longer tenure, with an average length of service of 14 years

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