S-2605 : Still Just a Bill

Summary of S. 2605: Cyber Workforce Recruitment and Retention Act

• Purpose: To improve the recruitment and retention of the cyber workforce within the Department of Defense (DoD).
• Key Provisions:
  • Excepted Service Positions: Allows the Secretary of Defense to establish qualified cyber positions in the DoD as positions in the excepted service (excluding those in the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System).
  • Personnel Management Authority: Grants the Secretary of Defense the authority to appoint individuals to these qualified positions without being bound by certain provisions of Title 5 (civil service appointments).
  • Compensation: Permits the Secretary to fix the compensation of these employees, including basic pay and additional compensation (e.g., benefits, incentives), subject to certain limitations and in line with comparable positions in the Federal Government.
  • Defense Digital Executive Service: Authorizes the establishment of a Defense Digital Executive Service for positions comparable to Senior Executive Service positions.
  • Defense Digital Senior Level Positions: Allows the designation of certain cyber positions as Defense Digital Senior Level positions based on specific criteria.
  • Probationary Period: Establishes a two-year probationary period for all employees hired under this authority.
  • Incumbent Rights: Protects the rights of individuals currently in competitive service positions selected for conversion to excepted service positions, allowing them to refuse the conversion.
  • Implementation Plan: Requires the Secretary to submit an implementation plan to Congress before the authority becomes effective.
  • Collective Bargaining: Preserves the effectiveness of existing collective bargaining agreements.
  • Regulations: Mandates the Secretary, in coordination with the Office of Personnel Management, to prescribe regulations for the administration of this section.
  • Annual Report: Requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, in coordination with the Secretary, to submit an annual report to Congress on the administration of the section.
  • Comptroller General Assessment: Requires the Comptroller General to assess recruitment and retention differences across federal agencies with unique hiring and pay authorities for cyber professionals.