Protecting America’s Cybersecurity Act

Bill Summary: Protecting America’s Cybersecurity Act (H.R. 3026)

Overview

Introduced on April 24, 2025, by Representative Norma Torres (CA), the Protecting America’s Cybersecurity Act is designed to stabilize the workforce and funding of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The bill focuses on reversing recent workforce reductions, placing strict limitations on the future removal of agency employees, and prohibiting the involvement of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) within the agency.

Key Provisions

1. Employee Reinstatement

The bill mandates the reinstatement of individuals who were involuntarily removed from CISA during a specific window: January 25, 2025, to March 1, 2025.
* Backpay: Reinstated employees are entitled to backpay in accordance with federal law (5 U.S.C. § 5596).
* Exclusions: This reinstatement does not apply to:
* Individuals in political positions.
* Individuals removed for misconduct or delinquency.
* Individuals whose most recent performance review was deemed "unacceptable" or "less than fully successful."

2. Protections Against Future Removals and Budget Shifts

The Act establishes significant hurdles for the removal of CISA personnel and the reallocation of its funds:
* Personnel Stability: No employee may be involuntarily removed or transferred out of the agency unless Congress passes a specific law authorizing such action (unless the authority was already provided in an appropriations act).
* Budgetary Protection: The bill prohibits the impounding, transferring, or reprogramming of appropriations available to CISA without a specific act of Congress.
* Exception: These protections do not apply to employees in "political positions" (e.g., Executive Schedule positions, non-career Senior Executive Service, or Schedule C appointees).

3. Prohibition of DOGE Involvement

The bill explicitly forbids the use of federal funds to pay for the salaries or expenses of any employee from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) or any DOGE agency team detailed or transferred to work within CISA.

Who is Affected?

• CISA Employees: Career civil servants who were terminated between late January and early March 2025 may be rehired. Existing career employees receive heightened job security.
• The Executive Branch: The administration's ability to unilaterally downsize CISA or shift its budget is significantly curtailed.
• DOGE Personnel: Employees of the Department of Government Efficiency would be legally barred from working within or being funded by CISA.

Procedural Status

As of April 24, 2025, the bill has been introduced and referred to several committees for consideration:
* Primary Jurisdiction: Committee on Homeland Security (specifically the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection).
* Additional Review: Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Energy and Commerce.