Technically Speaking

As the U.S. marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a critical pillar of the nation’s digital defense has expired. On September 30th, Congress failed to pass a continuing resolution, furloughing many federal cybersecurity staff and allowing the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015 to lapse as cyber threats are reaching unprecedented levels. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which spearheaded much of the law’s implementation, has also furloughed nearly two-thirds of its workforce.

The Space Systems Command (SSC) Front Door is now the go-to portal for businesses looking to work with the US Space Force. As the Space Force budget is requested as high as $39 billion, including all FY26 requests and reconciliation funding, IT companies have a bigger role to play than ever.

Over the last decade, technology has profoundly transformed U.S. state, local government, and higher education (SLED). As digital landscapes evolve, a skilled workforce is crucial. Pluralsight has proudly supported state and local governments for a decade by partnering with NASCIO through sponsorships and workforce development initiatives. Explore the top ten tech trends reshaping public service, and see how Pluralsight helps leaders build resilient, future-ready teams.

The United States is facing a significant cybersecurity workforce shortage, with NIST identifying over 500,000 open cyber positions and estimating there are 74 workers for every 100 cyber jobs. This shortage threatens both the nation’s private sector security profile and federal agencies struggling to compete for cybersecurity professionals. As such, the government is working to support cyber education in the United States. In the meantime, departments will also likely need to implement cyber solutions that can aid in accommodating for the workforce shortfall.

In 2018, the federal government started implementation of Trusted Workforce 2.0, a whole-of-government approach to establish a single employee vetting system for the US government which promises increased security and reduced background check times.

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) budget reductions might seem like a government-only problem. But the ripple effects are already hitting private organizations hard. While these cuts don't directly take money out of a private company's bank account, they send a powerful message. It can inadvertently signal that security threats are diminishing or no longer a top-tier concern. This perception, however wrong, can echo in boardrooms across the country.