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Outgoing White House Official Calls for US to Bolster Cybersecurity Workforce by Hiring Non-Degree Holders
In the wake of a massive Chinese hacking attack on the Treasury Department and other major cyber breaches, a top Republican is urging the Biden administration to strengthen the nation’s cybersecurity workforce by prioritizing the hiring of non-degree holders.
“We need to get out of this box that says you have to have a four-year degree to be qualified for these jobs,” said Michael Coker, a longtime cybersecurity expert and outgoing White House official. “Today there are nearly 500,000 open cyber jobs in this great nation, and we can’t just keep talking about the problem; we need to take action.”
Coker’s comments come as the US is reeling from an unprecedented cyber attack by China that has compromised sensitive government data and raised concerns about national security. The hack, dubbed “Salt Typhoon,” was one of many major breaches attributed to Chinese intelligence agencies this year.
The senior GOP official emphasized that removing the four-year college degree requirement would not only expand the pool of qualified candidates but also provide a more inclusive approach to addressing the nation’s cybersecurity workforce shortage.
“When we do away with the four-year college degree requirement, we expand our talent pool,” Coker argued. “Many Americans don’t have the time or means to go to college for four years, but they can do it for two years or less.”
Coker’s call comes as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are grappling with the fallout from China’s massive hack and demanding stronger measures to protect US infrastructure.
Source: http://www.foxnews.com
