# 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.

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., is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD] (R-SD); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2605
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-2605
- Congress: 119
- Title: 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.
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-07-31
- Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD] (R-SD)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**This bill would create a new hiring track in the Department of Defense to recruit and retain senior cyber experts.** It authorizes excepted-service cyber positions, flexible pay up to 150% of Level I Executive Schedule, and a Defense Digital Executive Service to compete for high-end talent. - Cyber workers: Enables direct appointments into qualified excepted-service cyber jobs with pay set to comparable federal rates and up to 150 percent of Level I of the Executive Schedule. New hires serve a two-year probationary period. - Current DoD staff and veterans: Employees chosen for conversion to the new track can refuse conversion. Hiring must follow veterans' preference rules and standard candidate assessments. - Managers and oversight: Requires an implementation plan and annual Office of Personnel Management reports for five years on hires, separations, placements, and incentives. The Comptroller General must assess cross-agency differences in cyber hiring and report within five years.

## Provisions PRIA read

- New Defense cyber job categories: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would let the Defense Department create special excepted-service cyber jobs outside the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System. It would set up a Defense Digital Executive Service like the Senior Executive Service and allow Defense Digital Senior Level roles above GG-15…
- Higher pay, hiring rules for cyber workers: mixed, high. If enacted, the Secretary of Defense could hire cyber experts outside the usual Title 5 rules. You could be paid up to 150% of the Executive Schedule Level I rate for some cyber jobs. The Secretary could also offer bonuses, relocation and retention incentives, and allowances, but not if you already…

## Related bills

- 119-s-3597: National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-2234: Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act
- 119-s-3659: SECURE Minerals Act of 2026
- 119-s-2833: Stand Strong Falls Prevention Act
- 119-s-668: SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act of 2025
- 119-s-2904: SHADOW Fleet Sanctions Act of 2026

## Sources
- [119-s-2605 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2605)

## Related
- [119-s-3597: National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3597)
- [119-s-2234: Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2234)
- [119-s-3659: SECURE Minerals Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3659)
- [119-s-2833: Stand Strong Falls Prevention Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2833)
- [119-s-668: SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-668)
- [119-s-2904: SHADOW Fleet Sanctions Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2904)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2605 (as of 2026-04-21).