Bill · S. 2605· Senate(119-S-2605)
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to improve recruitment and retention of the cyber workforce of the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.
- Introduced
- 7/31/2025
- Last activity
- 7/31/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- Sponsored by
- Mike Rounds
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill seeks to amend title 10 of the United States Code to improve how the Department of Defense recruits and keeps its cyber workforce. It gives the Secretary of Defense the authority to establish qualified cyber positions within the excepted service. The Secretary can also use specific personnel management authorities to bring in eminent experts. These authorities include the ability to set pay rates up to 150 percent of the maximum rate for Level I of the Executive Schedule. Additionally, the bill allows for the creation of a Defense Digital Executive Service and Senior Level positions.
Yes· 3 of 4
Is this likely to create jobs?+3
The bill establishes new qualified cyber positions and career structures within the Department of Defense.
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+2
The bill includes requirements to assess and ensure adherence to veterans' preference during the hiring process.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+2
The bill mandates annual detailed reports to Congress regarding the administration of the new cyber workforce authorities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Attracting Experts: The Secretary of Defense can establish qualified positions and carry out a personnel management program to facilitate the recruitment of eminent experts in cyber (Section 1, subsection a).
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Flexible Compensation: The Secretary is authorized to fix pay rates and can provide additional compensation including payments, benefits, sabbりs, incentives, awards, and allowances to help retain staff (Section 1, subsection b).
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Career Advancement Structures: The bill allows for the establishment of a Defense Digital Executive Service and Defense Digital Senior Level positions for those performing cyber missions (Section 1, subsection a and c).
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Interagency Mobility: The bill allows for interagency transfer agreements between qualified positions in the excepted service and positions in the competitive service within the Department (Section 1, subsection a).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Extended Probationary Period: All employees hired under the authority provided by this section are subject to a two-year probationary period (Section 1, subsection e).
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Limited Compensation Ceiling: Additional compensation cannot be provided if it causes the employee's total annual compensation to exceed the maximum amount payable at the salary set in accordance with section 104 of title 3 (Section 1, subsection b).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Veterans+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+2
- 7/31/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.