Cyber Workforce: Agencies Did Not Widely Adopt Rotational Program

What GAO Found A resilient and skilled cybersecurity workforce is essential to protecting federal information technology (IT) systems and enabling the government’s day-to-day functions. The Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce program, managed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), provides opportunities for members of the federal cyber workforce to gain experience in IT, cybersecurity, and other cyber-related positions. Agencies can participate in the program by either advertising a position or by having an employee serve in a position at an outside agency. As of May 2026, 13 agencies participated in the program, at least 106 positions were advertised, and 634 employees applied for rotational positions. Eight employees were approved to serve a rotation. OPM has effectively suspended the program. It did not advertise any positions in 2025 and officials stated that the agency does not intend to post advertised positions in 2026, due to low participation. Number of Applicants, Positions, and Approved Employees in the Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program, 2023-2025 In October 2024, OPM issued a report on the challenges it experienced in implementing the rotational program. These challenges included a lack of applicants deemed eligible for cyber rotations and a lack of managerial support for the rotational program at the employees’ home agencies. OPM also outlined recommendations for improving program performance—such as encouraging agency leadership to approve participation in the program and advertising positions with lower qualification thresholds—and it did not take steps to implement the recommendations. Due to resources and shifting government-wide priorities, the program has effectively been halted. Why GAO Did This Study In 2022, Congress passed the Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act to help federal agencies enhance their cyber workforce. The program provides opportunities for cyber employees to serve 6- to 12-month voluntary reassignments at other agencies and develop knowledge and skills that they can bring back to their home agencies. As prescribed by the act, the program will sunset in June 2027. The act includes a provision for GAO to assess the operation and effectiveness of the program. This report addresses (1) the extent to which agencies have participated in the Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program and (2) the extent to which OPM identified opportunities to improve the Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program. GAO collected and analyzed OPM data to determine what positions were made available in the program, and how many employee requests to participate were made and approved. GAO reviewed OPM’s lessons learned report to identify the challenges facing the program, summarize lessons learned as identified by OPM, and describe what actions OPM took to address identified program weaknesses. GAO also interviewed OPM officials. For more information, contact David Hinchman at hinchmand@gao.gov.

Cyber Workforce: Agencies Did Not Widely Adopt Rotational Program

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