U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff’s bipartisan initiative aimed at enhancing Georgia’s cybersecurity workforce cleared a significant Senate Committee hurdle this week.
The Federal Cyber Workforce Training Act of 2024, recently introduced by Senator Ossoff alongside Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD), successfully advanced through the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) with strong bipartisan backing. This legislation is designed to fortify the federal cybersecurity workforce, safeguarding families and businesses from cyber threats.
The proposed bill mandates the creation of a cybersecurity resource and training institute, offering targeted training programs for early and mid-career federal cybersecurity employees to enhance their effectiveness in cyber roles.
“It was a pleasure collaborating with Senator Rounds on this important legislation to bolster our federal cyber workforce,” said Sen. Ossoff. “In Georgia, particularly in Augusta, we see significant developments with Augusta University’s Georgia Cyber Center and the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence at Fort Eisenhower. Augusta is emerging as a national hub for cyber workforce development. Additionally, Atlanta’s HBCUs are rapidly expanding their cyber workforce curricula and training programs. This bipartisan bill will support these initiatives and others nationwide, creating well-paying jobs vital to our national security.”
“Cybersecurity is integral to all facets of the federal government and is continuously evolving,” stated Sen. Rounds. “We must not only keep pace with these changes but stay ahead of them. Proactively training our federal cyber workforce will strengthen cybersecurity across all federal agencies.”
Sen. Ossoff remains committed to positioning Georgia as a leader in tech innovation and manufacturing.
In June, he hosted White House National Cyber Director Harry Coker, Jr. at the Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center and the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence at Fort Eisenhower. They discussed with local cybersecurity experts how federal partnerships can enhance Augusta’s cyber workforce.
In May, Sen. Ossoff secured federal resources to bolster the Cybersecurity Leadership Center at Clark Atlanta University, increasing career opportunities in the cybersecurity field for HBCU students.
In December, President Biden signed Sen. Ossoff’s bill authorizing upgrades to Fort Eisenhower’s Cyber Center of Excellence into law.
For more information, you can read the Federal Cyber Workforce Training Act of 2024 [here].
