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EO 13870Executive OrderTrump 45 · R Quiet signal

Executive Order 13870

America's Cybersecurity Workforce

This executive order establishes programs to grow and strengthen the federal and national cybersecurity workforce through rotational assignments, skills assessments, competitions, and education awards. It mandates adoption of the NICE Framework for cybersecurity skills standards across government contracts and encourages its voluntary use in private-sector and academic training. The order also creates reporting mechanisms and deadlines for multiple agencies to assess workforce gaps and implement workforce development initiatives.

Federal Register Open PDF 84 FR 20523

Impact dates

  1. GSA report on NICE Framework incorporation into IT/cybersecurity contracts due

  2. Secretary of Education to develop and implement annual Presidential Cybersecurity Education Award

  3. First President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition to be held

  4. OPM list of cybersecurity aptitude assessments for agency reskilling programs due

  5. First annual OMB list of intelligence/national security agencies for labor relations exemption consideration

  6. DHS report on proposed cybersecurity rotational assignment program due to President

  7. Plan for President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition due to President

Key directives

  • Establish cybersecurity rotational assignment program at DHS with non-reimbursable details between agencies
  • Incorporate NICE Framework into GSA IT/cybersecurity service contracts
  • Identify cybersecurity aptitude assessments for federal employee reskilling
  • Develop annual President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition with cash awards of not less than $25,000
  • Develop annual Presidential Cybersecurity Education Award for one elementary and one secondary educator
  • Execute recommendations from Executive Order 13800 workforce report
  • Assess skills gaps in critical infrastructure and defense cybersecurity personnel
  • Annual OMB list of agencies for potential labor-management relations exemptions

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Establishment of policy framework for cybersecurity workforce mobility and development

Near term (90d)

  • DHS report on rotational assignment program due
  • Plan for President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition due
  • First competition to be held by December 31, 2019

Long term

  • Annual OMB list of intelligence/national security agencies for labor relations exemptions starting September 1, 2019
  • Annual Presidential Cybersecurity Education Award beginning after 1-year development period
  • Annual President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition
  • Annual updates on NICE Framework integration by non-Federal entities

Risks & tensions

  • Non-reimbursable personnel details between agencies may face bureaucratic resistance and resource allocation conflicts
  • Voluntary NICE Framework adoption by non-Federal entities limits enforceability
  • Labor-management relations exemption process (Section 2(f)) could generate union opposition; text specifies 'consideration' not automatic exemption
  • Cash awards of $25,000 minimum require agency-established programs first, creating implementation barrier
  • 'To the greatest extent practicable' and 'consistent with applicable law' language creates soft obligations throughout
  • Skills gap assessment for non-Federal personnel relies on indirect government influence rather than direct authority
Executive Order 13870: America's Cybersecurity Workforce · Executive Orders