Rep. Luria Introduces Bill to Reward the Nation’s Best Cybersecurity Talent

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA) introduced the President’s Cup Cybersecurity Competition Act last week to financially reward the best and brightest federal employees and servicemembers who prove their skills by successfully completing an array of cyber challenges. On March 2, the bill was successfully marked up and reported out of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Since 2019, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has run the President’s Cup Cybersecurity Competition, an annual event aiming to identify, challenge, and reward the best cybersecurity talent in the federal workforce. The President’s Cup was created in response to Executive Order 13870: America’s Cybersecurity Workforce; however, it has never become law. Rep. Luria’s bill will codify the competition and ensure that CISA can provide a monetary award to the successful competitors.

“Investing and in our federal cyber workforce is critical to improving and strengthening our cyberinfrastructure and defenses from foreign adversaries and bad actors,” Rep. Luria said. “We must continue to incentivize our federal workforce to prepare for unexpected challenges and attacks that may lie ahead. I know they are up to the challenge.”

“American innovation is our secret weapon for cyber defense against foreign adversaries like Russia and China. I’m pleased to cosponsor the President’s Cup Cybersecurity Competition Act to invigorate American innovation and encourage the United States Government to develop advanced offensive and defensive cybersecurity capabilities,” said Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation Ranking Member Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NJ). “I’m confident this legislation will allow the USG to compete with the private sector in offering incentives and recognizing talent within the Federal cyber workforce.”