[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 163 (Thursday, August 26, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47840-47913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17824]



[[Page 47839]]

Vol. 86

Thursday,

No. 163

August 26, 2021

Part III





Department of Homeland Security





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6 CFR Part 158





Cybersecurity Talent Management System; Interim Final Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 86 , No. 163 / Thursday, August 26, 2021 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 47840]]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

6 CFR Part 158

[Docket No. DHS-2020-0042]
RIN 1601-AA84


Cybersecurity Talent Management System

AGENCY: Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Interim final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is establishing 
a new talent management system to address DHS's historical and ongoing 
challenges recruiting and retaining individuals with skills necessary 
to execute DHS's dynamic cybersecurity mission. The Cybersecurity 
Talent Management System (CTMS) is a mission-driven, person-focused, 
and market-sensitive approach to talent management. CTMS represents a 
shift from traditional practices used to hire, compensate, and develop 
Federal civil service employees and is designed to adapt to changes in 
cybersecurity work, the cybersecurity talent market, and the 
Department's cybersecurity mission. CTMS will modernize and enhance 
DHS's capacity to recruit and retain mission-critical cybersecurity 
talent. With CTMS, DHS is creating a new type of Federal civil service 
position, called a qualified position, and the cadre of those positions 
and the individuals appointed to them is called the DHS Cybersecurity 
Service (DHS-CS). CTMS will govern talent management for the DHS-CS 
through specialized practices for hiring, compensation, and 
development. Individuals selected to join the DHS-CS will be provided 
with a contemporary public service career experience, which emphasizes 
continual learning and contributions to DHS cybersecurity mission 
execution. This rulemaking adds regulations to implement and govern 
CTMS and the DHS-CS.

DATES: This rule is effective on November 15, 2021. Comments must be 
received on or before December 31, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number DHS-
2020-0042, using the Federal rulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov. For instructions on submitting comments, see the 
``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of the 
Supplementary Information section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical information: Mr. Travis 
Hoadley, Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Chief Human 
Capital Officer: telephone 202-357-8700, email [email protected]. Legal 
information: Ms. Esa Sferra-Bonistalli, Department of Homeland 
Security, Office of the General Counsel: telephone 202-357-8700, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Executive Summary
    A. CTMS Elements
    B. Administering CTMS & Managing the DHS-CS
    C. New 6 CFR Part 158
    D. Costs and Benefits
II. Basis and Purpose
III. Background
    A. Authority for a New Cybersecurity Talent Management System
    1. Designate & Establish Qualified Positions
    2. Appointment
    3. Compensation
    (a) Comparable Positions
    (b) Basic Pay
    (i) Rates of Pay and Pay Ranges
    (ii) Limitations on Maximum Rates and Pay Caps
    (c) Additional Compensation
    (i) Consistent With
    (ii) The Level Authorized
    B. Need for a New Approach to Cybersecurity Talent Management
    1. Ever-Evolving Nature of Cybersecurity Work Requires a Focus 
on the Individual
    2. Outdated, Rigid Position Classification Inadequately 
Describes Cybersecurity Work
    3. Generic, Inflexible Compensation Limits Ability To Compete 
for Cybersecurity Talent
IV. Discussion of the Rule
    A. New Approach to Talent Management: Subparts A & B
    1. Subpart A--General Provisions
    (a) A New Type of Position: Qualified Positions
    (b) A New Definition of ``Qualifications''
    (c) Other Definitions
    (d) Authority & Policy Framework
    2. Subpart B--DHS Cybersecurity Service
    (a) Mission
    (b) Qualified Positions
    (c) DHS-CS Employees
    (d) DHS-CS Assignments
    B. CTMS and DHS-CS Leadership: Subpart C
    1. Leaders
    2. Principles, Priorities, and Core Values
    C. Strategic Talent Planning: Subpart D
    1. DHS-CS Cybersecurity Work & CTMS Qualifications 
Identification
    2. CTMS Talent Market Analysis
    3. CTMS Work Valuation & Work and Career Structures
    4. Informing CTMS Administration and DHS-CS Management
    D. Acquiring Talent: Subpart E
    1. CTMS Talent Acquisition System
    2. Strategic Recruitment
    3. Qualifications-Based Assessment, Selection & Appointment
    (a) CTMS Assessment Program
    (b) DHS-CS Appointments
    E. Compensating Talent: Subpart F
    1. CTMS Compensation System
    2. DHS-CS Employee Compensation
    3. CTMS Salary System
    (a) CTMS Salary Range
    (b) CTMS Salary Structure
    (c) CTMS Local Cybersecurity Talent Market Supplement
    (d) CTMS Salary Administration
    4. CTMS Recognition
    (a) CTMS Recognition Payments
    (b) CTMS Recognition Time-Off
    (c) CTMS Honorary Recognition
    5. Other Special Payments Under CTMS
    (a) CTMS Professional Development and Training
    (b) CTMS Student Loan Repayments
    (c) CTMS Special Work Conditions Payments
    (d) CTMS Allowances in Nonforeign Areas
    6. Other Compensation Provided in Accordance With OPM 
Regulations
    7. CTMS Aggregate Compensation Limit
    F. Deploying Talent: Subpart G
    1. CTMS Deployment Program
    2. Designating Qualified Positions
    3. Designating and Staffing Assignments
    4. Official Worksite
    5. Work Scheduling
    6. DHS-CS Recordkeeping
    7. Details and Opportunities Outside of the DHS-CS
    G. Developing Talent: Subpart H
    1. CTMS Performance Management Program
    2. CTMS Career Development Program
    H. Federal Employee Rights and Requirements & Advisory 
Appointments: Subparts I & J
    1. Subpart I--Employee Rights, Requirements, and Input
    2. Subpart J--Advisory Appointments
V. Appendix: Reference Materials
VI. Public Participation and Request for Comments
VII. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements
    A. Executive Orders 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) and 
13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review)
    1. Background and Purpose
    2. CTMS Costs: Designing, Establishing, and Administering CTMS
    3. CTMS & DHS-CS Costs: Compensating and Retaining DHS-CS 
Employees
    4. CTMS & DHS-CS Benefits: Enhancing the Cybersecurity of the 
Nation
    B. Regulatory Flexibility Act
    C. Congressional Review Act
    D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
    E. E.O. 13132 (Federalism)
    F. E.O. 12988 (Civil Justice Reform)
    G. E.O. 13175 (Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal 
Governments)
    H. National Environmental Policy Act
    I. National Technology Transfer and Advance Act
    J. E.O. 12630 (Governmental Actions and Interference With 
Constitutionally Protected Property Rights)

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    K. E.O. 13045 (Protection of Children From Environmental Health 
Risks and Safety Risks)
    L. E.O. 13211 (Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly 
Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use)
    M. Paperwork Reduction Act

Table of Abbreviations

APA--Administrative Procedure Act
CFR--Code of Federal Regulations
CISA--Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
CRA--Congressional Review Act
CTMB--Cybersecurity Talent Management Board
CTMS--Cybersecurity Talent Management System
DHS--Department of Homeland Security
DHS-CS--DHS Cybersecurity Service
DHS OCIO--DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer
DOD--Department of Defense
DOD CES--Department of Defense's Cybersecurity Excepted Service
DOD DCIPS--Department of Defense's Civilian Intelligence Personnel 
System
DOD HQE--DOD Highly Qualified Experts
E.O.--Executive Order
EX--Executive Schedule
FLSA--Fair Labor Standards Act
GAO--Government Accountability Office
GS--General Schedule
HSAC--Homeland Security Advisory Council
IC--Intelligence Community
IC HQE--Intelligence Community Highly Qualified Experts
LCTMS--Local Cybersecurity Talent Market Supplement
OMB--Office of Management and Budget
OPM--Office of Personnel Management
SES--Senior Executive Service
SL/ST--Senior Level/Scientific or Professional
STRL--Scientific and Technology Reinvention Laboratories
Sec.  --Section
U.S.C.--United States Code

I. Executive Summary

    For more than a decade, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security 
(DHS) has encountered challenges recruiting and retaining mission-
critical cybersecurity talent. To address those challenges, DHS has re-
envisioned Federal civilian talent management for 21st-century 
cybersecurity work by designing an innovative approach to talent 
management: The Cybersecurity Talent Management System (CTMS). DHS is 
establishing CTMS under the authority in section 658 of Title 6 of the 
United States Code (U.S.C.), which authorizes DHS to create a new 
approach to talent management exempt from major portions of existing 
laws governing talent management for much of the Federal civil service.
    CTMS is mission-driven, person-focused, and market-sensitive, and 
it features several interrelated elements, based on leading public and 
private sector talent management practices. Importantly, CTMS is also 
based on core Federal talent management principles related to upholding 
merit, prohibiting certain personnel practices, advancing equity, and 
providing equal employment opportunity. CTMS is designed to modernize 
and enhance DHS's capacity to recruit and retain individuals with the 
skills, called qualifications, necessary to execute the DHS 
cybersecurity mission. CTMS is also designed to adapt to changes in 
cybersecurity work, the cybersecurity talent market, and the DHS 
cybersecurity mission, even as technology, sought-after expertise, and 
work arrangements change.
    With CTMS, DHS is creating a new type of Federal civil service 
position in the excepted service, called a qualified position. 
Qualified positions focus on individuals and individuals' 
qualifications. The cadre of qualified positions and the individuals 
appointed to them is called the DHS Cybersecurity Service (DHS-CS). The 
goal of the DHS-CS is to enhance the cybersecurity of the Nation 
through the most effective execution of the DHS cybersecurity mission. 
DHS will use CTMS to hire, compensate, and develop DHS-CS employees to 
reinforce the values of expertise, innovation, and adaptability.
    CTMS will also provide DHS-CS employees with a contemporary public 
service career experience, which emphasizes continual learning and 
contributions to DHS cybersecurity mission execution.

A. CTMS Elements

    To recruit and retain DHS-CS employees, CTMS features interrelated 
elements that are new processes, systems, and programs that implement 
new talent management concepts and definitions. Each CTMS element 
represents a shift from the traditional methods and practices Federal 
agencies typically use to hire, compensate, and develop civil service 
talent. Collectively, the CTMS elements form a complete approach to 
talent management and enable new, specialized talent management 
practices. CTMS is driven by the DHS cybersecurity mission and informed 
by internal data about the state of DHS cybersecurity work and talent; 
it is also informed by external data about trends in the field of 
cybersecurity and the talent market.
    The CTMS elements and their purposes are:
     Strategic talent planning process enables CTMS to adapt to 
changes in cybersecurity work, the cybersecurity talent market, and the 
DHS cybersecurity mission by aggregating and using relevant information 
to inform CTMS administration on an ongoing basis. As part of the 
strategic talent planning process, DHS:
    [cir] Identifies the set of qualifications necessary to perform the 
work required to execute the DHS cybersecurity mission.
    [cir] conducts analysis of the cybersecurity talent market to 
identify and monitor employment trends and leading strategies for 
recruiting and retaining cybersecurity talent.
    [cir] establishes and administers a work valuation system based on 
qualifications and DHS cybersecurity work, which DHS uses instead of 
the General Schedule (GS) or other traditional Federal position 
classification methods to facilitate systematic talent management and 
addresses internal equity.
     Talent acquisition system supports qualifications-based 
recruitment, assessment, selection, and appointment of DHS-CS 
employees.
     Compensation system provides sufficiently competitive, 
market-sensitive compensation, while encouraging and recognizing DHS-CS 
employee contributions, such as exceptional qualifications and mission 
impact.
     Deployment program guides when DHS uses CTMS to recruit 
and retain talent and operationalizes aspects of the work valuation, 
talent acquisition, and compensation systems through requirements for 
designating qualified positions, designating and staffing assignments, 
work scheduling, and recordkeeping.
     Performance management program seeks to improve the 
effectiveness of DHS-CS employees in executing the cybersecurity 
mission by ensuring individual accountability and recognizing their 
mission impact.
     Career development program ensures the development of the 
collective expertise of DHS-CS employees through continual learning, 
while guiding the career progression of each DHS-CS employee.
    The CTMS elements rely on new talent management concepts and 
definitions:
     Work and career structures, are constructs, analogous to 
General Schedule classes and grades, that DHS establishes under the 
CTMS work valuation system and uses instead of classes and grades from 
the General Schedule or other traditional Federal position 
classification methods. DHS uses work and career structures to support 
several elements of CTMS,

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including the compensation system, and DHS determines applicable work 
and career structures for a DHS-CS employee as part of selection and 
appointment under the CTMS talent acquisition system.
     Mission impact is the influence an individual has on the 
execution of the DHS cybersecurity mission by applying qualifications 
to perform DHS cybersecurity work. DHS determines a DHS-CS employee's 
mission impact through mission impact reviews under the CTMS 
performance management program. Mission impact is a factor in DHS-CS 
employee compensation and development.
     Mission-related requirements are characteristics of an 
individual's expertise or characteristics of cybersecurity work, or 
both, that are associated with successful execution of the DHS 
cybersecurity mission. They are determined by officials with 
appropriate decision-making authority and are a factor in DHS-CS 
employee compensation, assignment matches, and development.
     Strategic talent priorities are priorities for CTMS and 
the DHS-CS set by the Secretary or the Secretary's designee. Strategic 
talent priorities are used in administering CTMS and managing the DHS-
CS.

B. Administering CTMS & Managing the DHS-CS

    The Secretary, or the Secretary's designee, leads CTMS and the DHS-
CS with assistance from the Cybersecurity Talent Management Board 
(CTMB). The CTMB comprises DHS officials representing organizations 
involved in executing the DHS cybersecurity mission and DHS officials 
responsible for developing and administering talent management policy. 
Working together, these officials ensure the most efficient operation 
of CTMS and the most effective management of the DHS-CS. The Secretary, 
or the Secretary's designee, and the CTMB administer CTMS and manage 
the DHS-CS.
    The dynamic DHS cybersecurity mission drives CTMS. On an ongoing 
basis, DHS identifies the functions that execute the DHS cybersecurity 
mission, the cybersecurity work required by those functions, and the 
set of qualifications necessary to perform that work. The work 
identified is called DHS-CS work, and the set of qualifications 
identified are called CTMS qualifications. Under CTMS, qualifications 
are individuals' cybersecurity skills, which encompass the full array 
of work-related characteristics and qualities that distinguish talent.
    Qualifications are the core of CTMS and its elements, and on an 
ongoing basis, DHS updates the set of CTMS qualifications to ensure 
they continue to reflect the collective cybersecurity expertise DHS 
requires. DHS establishes work and career structures based on CTMS 
qualifications, and DHS creates qualified positions based on DHS-CS 
employees' CTMS qualifications. DHS-CS employees execute the DHS 
cybersecurity mission by applying their CTMS qualifications to perform 
DHS-CS cybersecurity work. In administering CTMS to recruit and retain 
DHS-CS employees, DHS emphasizes individuals' CTMS qualifications and 
their mission impact.
    DHS uses CTMS, instead of another Federal personnel system, when a 
DHS organization requires talent with CTMS qualifications and DHS 
determines that the recruitment and retention of such talent would be 
enhanced by the specialized practices of CTMS.
    All individuals interested in serving in the DHS-CS must apply, and 
DHS proactively recruits individuals at all career stages, from those 
just beginning a career in cybersecurity to those with years of proven 
experience working as a cybersecurity technical expert or 
organizational leader. Recruitment includes proactively communicating 
with prospective applicants about DHS's unique cybersecurity mission 
and available public service career opportunities in the DHS-CS.
    DHS assesses applicants using standardized instruments and 
procedures intended to determine the applicants' CTMS qualifications. 
DHS selects an individual based on the individual's CTMS 
qualifications.
    DHS may appoint a selected individual to a renewable appointment or 
continuing appointment. A renewable appointment is time-limited, may be 
renewed multiple times, and may be used for project-based work or other 
similar purposes. A continuing appointment is not time-limited. The 
DHS-CS can also include political appointees, called advisory 
appointees. Regardless of appointment type, new DHS-CS employees are 
matched with initial assignments based on mission needs and their CTMS 
qualifications upon appointment.
    Compensation for DHS-CS employees includes salaries and additional 
compensation. DHS provides such compensation in alignment with a CTMS 
compensation strategy aimed at ensuring sufficiently competitive 
compensation to recruit and retain the cybersecurity expertise DHS 
requires. Under CTMS, compensation is based primarily on CTMS 
qualifications, and DHS has necessary flexibility to adjust aspects of 
compensation based on market and mission demands.
    DHS provides salaries for DHS-CS employees under a market-sensitive 
salary structure bounded by an overall salary range. This salary range 
is comprised of a standard range and an extended range for use in 
limited circumstances. A DHS-CS employee's salary may include a local 
cybersecurity talent market supplement, analogous to a locality-based 
comparability payment, to ensure a competitive salary in certain 
geographic areas.
    DHS provides additional compensation for DHS-CS employees mainly in 
the form of recognition, which includes salary increases called 
recognition adjustments, cash bonuses called recognition payments, paid 
time-off called recognition time-off, and honorary awards called 
honorary recognition. Such recognition is based primarily on DHS-CS 
employees' mission impact.
    CTMS additional compensation also includes payments for special 
working conditions, which DHS can use to compensate a DHS-CS employee 
for special working conditions that are determined to be insufficiently 
accounted for in the employee's salary. For example, such conditions or 
circumstances include performing certain work involving unusual 
physical or mental hardship, at unexpected times, or for an uncommon 
duration of time. Other types of additional compensation available to 
DHS-CS employees are similar to or the same as existing offerings for 
many Federal employees: Professional development and training, student 
loan repayments, allowances in nonforeign areas, as well as traditional 
Federal employee benefits like holidays, leave, retirement, health 
benefits, and insurance programs.
    Throughout DHS-CS employees' service, DHS considers increasing 
employees' compensation based primarily on their mission impact. 
Compensation increases occur mainly through CTMS recognition as either 
recognition adjustments or recognition payments. CTMS does not feature 
automatic salary increases or payments; moreover, longevity in position 
or prior Federal government service are not factors in CTMS 
compensation.
    Each DHS-CS employee's salary is subject to salary limitations, and 
each DHS-CS employee's aggregate compensation, composed of the 
employee's salary and certain types of additional compensation, is 
subject to an aggregate compensation limit. These salary limitations 
and the aggregate compensation limit implement statutory

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requirements from the authority for CTMS in 6 U.S.C. 658.
    Career progression in the DHS-CS is based on enhancement of CTMS 
qualifications and salary progression resulting from recognition 
adjustments. DHS guides a DHS-CS employee's career and ensures 
development of the collective expertise of DHS-CS employees through 
continual learning, which may include a range of recommended and 
required learning activities. Continual learning and enhancement of 
CTMS qualifications are integral to a DHS-CS employee's service in the 
DHS-CS. New assignment opportunities may be an important part of DHS-CS 
employees' continual learning and enhancement of CTMS qualifications. 
Through such assignments, DHS-CS employees are able to learn and 
perform different types of DHS-CS cybersecurity work and customize 
contemporary career experiences that maximize both their qualifications 
and their impact on the DHS cybersecurity mission.

C. New 6 CFR Part 158

    This rulemaking adds new part 158 to Title 6 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) to implement and govern CTMS and the DHS-CS. New part 
158 contains several subparts setting forth the interrelated elements 
of CTMS that function together as a complete, and innovative, approach 
to talent management.

D. Costs and Benefits

    From FY 2016 through FY 2020, DHS received approximately $49 
million of appropriated funding to design and establish CTMS and the 
resulting DHS-CS. The major costs of CTMS and the DHS-CS are: (1) The 
cost of talent management infrastructure necessary for the Office of 
the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) to design, establish, and 
prepare to administer CTMS; and (2) the cost of compensating DHS-CS 
employees hired by DHS organizations using CTMS.
    In FY 2021, OCHCO received approximately $13 million of 
appropriated funding to both finalize the design of CTMS and to 
establish CTMS. For FY 2022, DHS requested that funding be increased to 
approximately $16 million both to launch and administer CTMS and to 
support the management of an expanding population of DHS-CS employees.
    The primary benefit of this rule is to ensure the most effective 
execution of the DHS cybersecurity mission by establishing CTMS to 
enhance DHS's capacity to recruit and retain cybersecurity talent in 
the new DHS-CS.
    This rulemaking does not directly regulate the public.

II. Basis and Purpose

    On December 18, 2014, Congress added a new section to the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 entitled ``Cybersecurity Recruitment and 
Retention.'' This new section is codified at 6 U.S.C. 658 and grants 
the Secretary broad authority and discretion to create a new personnel 
or talent management system for DHS's cybersecurity workforce. The 
exercise of this authority and discretion is exempt from major portions 
of existing laws governing talent management for much of the Federal 
civil service.\1\ This exemption allows DHS to re-envision talent 
management for 21st-century cybersecurity work.
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    \1\ 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(1)(B).
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    This rule implements 6 U.S.C. 658 and establishes a new talent 
management system designed based on DHS's dynamic cybersecurity 
mission. Use of the new system addresses DHS's historical and ongoing 
challenges recruiting and retaining mission-critical cybersecurity 
talent.
    To implement the authority in 6 U.S.C. 658, Congress requires the 
Secretary ``shall prescribe regulations'' and to do so in coordination 
with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).\2\ This 
rulemaking fulfills the requirement to prescribe regulations. To 
fulfill the requirement to coordinate with the Director of OPM, DHS 
engaged with OPM experts for assistance in understanding the talent 
management concepts invoked by the language of 6 U.S.C. 658 and to 
obtain feedback on DHS's design for the new talent management system.
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    \2\ 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(6).
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    DHS is promulgating this rule as an interim final rule because it 
is a matter relating to agency management or personnel that is exempt 
from the rulemaking requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act 
(APA). Rulemaking requirements of the APA include issuing a notice of 
proposed rulemaking, providing an opportunity for public comment, and 
an effective date not less than 30 days after publication of the 
rule.\3\ These requirements, however, do not apply to ``a matter 
relating to agency management or personnel or to public property, 
loans, grants, benefits, or contracts.'' \4\ The Attorney General's 
Manual on the Administrative Procedure Act describes this exemption as 
one of two ``broad exceptions'' to APA rulemaking requirements,\5\ and 
further characterizes the agency management or exemption as ``self-
explanatory.'' \6\ Similar to the Attorney General's Manual 
characterization, Federal courts have interpreted the agency management 
exemption as applying to traditional personnel matters, such as a new 
personnel system, personnel manuals, and personnel policies.\7\
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    \3\ 5 U.S.C. 553(b)-(d).
    \4\ 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2).
    \5\ Attorney General's Manual on the Administrative Procedure 
Act, 26. The other broad exemption in the APA, as amended, is for 
``any military or foreign affairs function of the United States'' 
under 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1).
    \6\ Id. at 27.
    \7\ See, e.g., Brodowy v. U.S., 482 F.3d 1370, 1375-76 (Fed. 
Cir. 2007) (finding an agency's new personnel management system to 
be a matter relating to agency management or personnel and exempt 
from the APA's procedural requirements); Hamlet v. U.S., 63 F.3d 
1097, 1105 (Fed. Cir. 1995) (holding that an agency personnel manual 
governing all phases of personnel management relates to matters of 
agency personnel, and its promulgation was exempt from the APA's 
procedural requirements); Stewart v. Smith, 673 F.2d 485, 496-500 
(D.C. Cir. 1982) (holding that an agency's hiring policy falls 
within the APA exception for agency management or personnel).
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    Although this rulemaking is exempt from the rulemaking requirements 
of the APA, DHS is seeking public comments on the innovative talent 
management system. Interested persons are invited to participate in 
this rulemaking by submitting written comments as described in VI. 
Public Participation and Request for Comments of this document.

III. Background

    Cybersecurity is a matter of homeland security and one of the core 
missions of DHS. For more than a decade, DHS has encountered challenges 
recruiting and retaining mission-critical cybersecurity talent. As 
cybersecurity threats facing the Nation have grown in volume and 
sophistication, DHS has experienced spikes in attrition and 
longstanding vacancies in some cybersecurity positions, as well as 
shortages of certain critical and emerging cybersecurity skills.
    In response to DHS's historical and ongoing challenges recruiting 
and retaining cybersecurity talent, Congress granted the Secretary the 
authority in 6 U.S.C. 658 to ensure DHS improves its ability to recruit 
and retain mission-critical cybersecurity talent. Legislative history 
indicates that Congress granted the authority in 6 U.S.C. 658 in 
response to a report by the Secretary's Homeland Security Advisory 
Council (HSAC) recommending DHS receive additional talent management 
flexibilities similar

[[Page 47844]]

to those used by the National Security Agency.\8\ The HSAC report 
linked DHS's recruitment and retention challenges to a global shortage 
of cybersecurity expertise and fierce competition among Federal 
agencies and the private sector for cybersecurity skills.\9\
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    \8\ S. Rep. 113-207, Report of the Committee on Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate, to accompany S. 
2354, ``To Improve Cybersecurity Recruitment and Retention,'' (July 
14, 2014), 2-3 (``The [Homeland Security Advisory] Council also made 
a recommendation to Congress: `Congress should grant the Department 
[of Homeland Security] human capital flexibilities in making salary, 
hiring, promotion and separation decisions identical to those used 
by the National Security Agency for hiring and managing its 
cybersecurity workforce and other technical experts.' This bill 
seeks to do just that: It gives the Secretary of Homeland Security 
similar recruitment and retention authorities for cybersecurity 
professional as currently possessed by the Secretary of Defense''). 
Note that S. 2354 is a previous bill, the language of which is now 
codified at 6 U.S.C. 658.
    \9\ Homeland Security Advisory Council, U.S. Department of 
Homeland Security, CyberSkills Task Force Report (Fall 2012).
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    The language codified at 6 U.S.C. 658 mirrors the language in 10 
U.S.C. 1601-1603, enacted in 1996 for the Department of Defense (DOD), 
that authorizes DOD's Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System 
(DOD DCIPS).\10\ In addition, the language codified at 6 U.S.C. 658 is 
similar to a separate DOD authority, enacted a year after Sec.  658, 
and under which DOD has established the DOD Cybersecurity Excepted 
Service (DOD CES) personnel system for its United States Cyber Command 
workforce.\11\
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    \10\ National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 
Public Law 104-201, Sec. 1632 (Sept. 23, 1996), codified at 10 
U.S.C. 1601-1614.
    \11\ National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016. 
Public Law 114-92, Sec. 1107 (Nov. 25, 2015), codified at 10 U.S.C. 
1599f.
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    Once granted the authority to create a new cybersecurity talent 
management system free from existing requirements and practices 
governing Federal talent management, DHS formed a specialized team in 
early 2016 to design a new cybersecurity talent management system 
capable of addressing DHS's recruitment and retention challenges. Based 
on the authority in 6 U.S.C. 658 and DHS's understanding of both the 
cybersecurity talent landscape and existing Federal talent management 
practices, DHS concluded it could--and it must--re-envision talent 
management for 21st-century cybersecurity work. As outlined in required 
reports to Congress \12\ about DHS's plan for and progress toward 
execution of the authority granted in 6 U.S.C. 658, DHS is using this 
authority to create an innovative, 21st-century talent management 
system with solutions for its cybersecurity workforce recruitment and 
retention challenges.\13\ This rule establishes the new talent 
management system, which is based on leading public and private sector 
talent management practices and driven by the DHS cybersecurity 
mission.
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    \12\ See 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(4) and 658(c).
    \13\ U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Plan for Execution of 
Authorities: Fiscal Year 2015 Report to Congress, (May 3, 2016); 
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Annual Report: Usage of 
Cybersecurity Human Capital Authorities Granted by 6 United States 
Code Sec.  147, (May 3, 2016); U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 
Annual Report: Usage of Cybersecurity Human Capital Authorities 
Granted by 6 United States Code Sec.  147, (Apr.4, 2017); U.S. 
Department of Homeland Security, Comprehensive Cybersecurity 
Workforce Update: FY2018-2019 (July 2020).
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A. Authority for a New Cybersecurity Talent Management System

    The authority in 6 U.S.C. 658 allows DHS to create a new talent 
management system exempt from many existing laws governing Federal 
civilian talent management. Specifically, the Secretary may designate 
and establish ``qualified positions'' in the excepted service, appoint 
individuals to those positions, and compensate appointed individuals. 
See 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(1)(A). The Secretary may do this ``without regard 
to the provisions of any other law relating to the appointment, number, 
classification, or compensation of employees.'' See 6 U.S.C. 
658(b)(1)(B). The ``without regard to'' language supersedes all other 
laws governing appointment, number, classification, or compensation of 
employees.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ See e.g. Cisneros v. Alphine Ridge Group, 508 U.S. 10 
(1993) (construing the use of a ``notwithstanding'' clause, which is 
similar to the ``without regard to'' clause in 5 U.S.C. 
658(b)(1)(B), as superseding all other laws).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The language of 6 U.S.C. 658 uses terms that invoke fundamental 
talent management concepts. Importantly, the exemption from 
classification means that DHS can choose how to describe cybersecurity 
work, including by establishing new constructs to categorize work and 
new ways of defining positions performing such work, and relatedly, DHS 
can choose how to value cybersecurity work and positions, including 
through new compensation structures and practices. DHS has interpreted 
the authority in 6 U.S.C. 658, as necessary, to fulfill the 
congressional intent in the legislative history: That DHS address its 
cybersecurity workforce recruitment and retention challenges and 
improve its capacity to compete for top cybersecurity talent by 
exercising greater discretion in hiring and compensating cybersecurity 
talent.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ See S. Rep. 113-207, Report of the Committee on Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate, to accompany S. 
2354, ``To Improve Cybersecurity Recruitment and Retention,'' (July 
14, 2014), 1 (stating that the language is now codified at 6 U.S.C. 
658, ``would enable DHS to better compete for cybersecurity talent 
by giving the Secretary of Homeland Security greater discretion than 
currently possessed when hiring and setting the pay and benefits of 
DHS cybersecurity employees.''). Also see remarks in the 
Congressional Record indicating that 6 U.S.C. 658 grants the 
Secretary talent management flexibilities to better recruit and 
retain top cybersecurity talent with a faster and more flexible 
hiring process and more competitive compensation. 160 Cong. Rec. 
H8945, 8950 (Ms. Norton: ``An amendment introduced by Senator Carper 
also would add provisions allowing the Department of Homeland 
Security to recruit and retain cyber professionals by granting 
authority to hire qualified experts on an expedited basis and to pay 
them competitive salaries, wages, and incentives''); 160 Cong. Rec. 
H8945, 8951 (Ms. Clarke: ``The cyber workforce language included in 
S. 1691 generally does two important things. First, it grants 
special hiring authority to DHS to bring on board topnotch cyber 
recruits. The Department desperately needs a more flexible hiring 
process with incentives to secure talent in today's highly 
competitive cyber skills market. Second, it requires the Secretary 
of the Department to assess its cyber workforce'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Although DHS has authority to create a new talent management system 
free from existing requirements in other laws governing appointment, 
number, classification, and compensation of Federal employees, Congress 
provided a few requirements and parameters for exercising that 
authority. The following discussion in III.A.1 through III.A.3 of this 
document explains the scope of the Secretary's authority to create a 
new talent management system.
1. Designate & Establish Qualified Positions
    Under 6 U.S.C. 658, DHS has authority to both designate and 
establish qualified positions. Section 658(a)(5) defines ``qualified 
position'' as ``a position, designated by the Secretary for the purpose 
of this section, in which the incumbent performs, manages, or 
supervises functions that execute the responsibilities of the 
Department relating to cybersecurity.'' Section 658(b)(1)(A)(i) gives 
authority to ``establish'' qualified positions and describes qualified 
positions as positions in the excepted service that the Secretary 
determines necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the 
Department relating to cybersecurity. The authority to designate 
qualified positions includes determining the purpose and use of such 
qualified positions, as the Secretary determines necessary, for 
executing DHS's cybersecurity responsibilities.\16\ The authority to 
establish qualified positions

[[Page 47845]]

is authority to create qualified positions in the excepted service to 
carry out DHS's cybersecurity responsibilities.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ ``Designate'' means ``to indicate and set apart for a 
specific purpose, office, or duty,'' ``to point out the location 
of,'' ``to distinguish as to class,'' or ``specify, stipulate.'' 
Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/designate (last visited May 25, 2021).
    \17\ Legislative history indicates that the authority to 
``establish'' positions means to ``create new positions.'' In a 
report accompanying S. 2354, the language of which is now codified 
at 6 U.S.C. 658, Congress states that ``the Secretary of Defense may 
create new positions for cyber personnel'' and references DOD DCIPS 
authority at 10 U.S.C. 1601-1603. S. Rep. 113-207, Report of the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. 
Senate, to accompany S. 2354, ``To Improve Cybersecurity Recruitment 
and Retention,'' (July 14, 2014), 2. In 10 U.S.C. 1601, Congress 
grants the Secretary of Defense authority to ``establish, as 
positions in the excepted service, such defense intelligence 
positions in the Department of Defense as the Secretary determines 
necessary to carry out the intelligence functions of the 
Department.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The authority to designate and establish qualified positions 
applies without regard to any other provisions of law relating to the 
number or classification of employees.\18\ In the U.S. Code, provisions 
of law relating to the number of employees may limit the number of 
positions, or types of positions, or limit the number of employees that 
may be hired into such positions.\19\ Thus, DHS is not limited in the 
number of qualified positions the Secretary may designate and 
establish, except by funding constraints and requirements in 
appropriations for DHS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(1)(B). The authority to designate and 
establish qualified positions also applies without regard to any 
other provisions of law relating to appointment or compensation of 
employees.
    \19\ See e.g., 5 U.S.C. 3131(c) (``The Office of Personnel 
Management, in consultation with the Office of Management and 
Budget, shall review the request of each agency and shall authorize 
. . . a specific number of Senior Executive Service positions for 
each agency''); see also the Federal Employees Pay Act of 1945, Sec. 
607 (controlling the number of employees and establishing personnel 
ceilings within executive branch agencies), repealed Public Law 81-
784 (Sept. 1950).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under the exemption relating to classification of employees,\20\ 
DHS is exempt from the General Schedule (GS) position classification 
system as well as other work valuation systems relying on traditional 
position classification concepts and methods. ``Classification'' 
generally is a systematic process of job or work valuation used to 
describe and value jobs or work and individuals within an 
organization.\21\ In the Federal civil service context, classification 
most often refers to the GS position classification system, which is 
the job evaluation system codified at 5 U.S.C. Chapter 51. Chapter 51 
provides a definition of the term ``position'' that means ``the work, 
consisting of the duties and responsibilities, assignable to an 
employee.'' \22\ Under the GS position classification system, positions 
are grouped into classes \23\ and grades \24\ based on duties, 
responsibilities, and qualification requirements.\25\ Traditional 
Federal position classification systems based on Chapter 51, including 
the GS, provide job structures, such as classes and grades, that 
meaningfully group positions to facilitate systematic management of 
Federal civilian employees and address internal equity. With the GS or 
other similar position classification systems, those job structures 
influence many aspects of talent management, especially compensation, 
for positions under those systems and employees in those positions.\26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(1)(B).
    \21\ See Robert L. Heneman, Ph.D., Work Evaluation: Strategic 
Issues and Alternative Methods, prepared for the U.S. Office of 
Personnel Management, FR-00-20 (July 2000, Revised Feb. 2002), 2-3 
and 11.
    \22\ 5 U.S.C. 5102(3).
    \23\ A ``class'' includes all positions ``sufficiently similar'' 
regarding ``kind or subject-matter of work; level of difficulty and 
responsibility; and the qualifications requirements of the work; to 
warrant similar treatment in personnel and pay administration.'' 5 
U.S.C. 5102(a)(4).
    \24\ A ``grade'' includes all classes of position that, 
``although different with respect to the kind of subject-matter of 
work, are sufficiently equivalent as to--level of difficulty and 
responsibility, and level of qualification requirements of the work; 
to warrant their inclusion within one range of rates of basic pay in 
the General Schedule.'' 5 U.S.C. 5102(a)(5).
    \25\ 5 U.S.C. 5101(2) (requiring grouping of positions into 
classes and grades based on duties, responsibilities, and 
qualification requirements).
    \26\ U.S. Government Accountability Office, Human Capital: OPM 
Needs to Improve the Design, Management, and Oversight of the 
Federal Classification System, GAO-14-677 (July 2014), 4-6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under the exemption relating to classification of employees,\27\ 
DHS is exempt from the definition of ``position'' under the GS position 
classification system and other job or work valuation systems, and how 
the concept of ``position'' is used under those systems. Section 658 
defines and describes qualified positions as positions designated and 
established by the Secretary as the Secretary determines necessary, and 
both the definition and description of qualified positions use the 
general, stand-alone term ``position.'' \28\ In the U.S. Code, that 
term does not have a universal meaning or a specific meaning in the 
excepted service; instead the U.S. Code contains multiple definitions 
of the term ``position'' for specific purposes.\29\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(1)(B).
    \28\ 6 U.S.C. 658(a)(5) and (b)(1)(A)(i).
    \29\ Title 5 of the U.S. Code alone contains multiple 
definitions of the term position for purposes of specific Chapters, 
sections, or subsections. The multiple definitions in Title 5 
describe ``position'' as duties and responsibilities of a position, 
types of position, and specific positions occupiable by individuals. 
See e.g., 5 U.S.C. 5102(a)(3) (defining ``position'' for purposes of 
the General Schedule to mean ``the work, consisting of duties and 
responsibilities, assignable to an employee''); 5 U.S.C. 5304(h)(1) 
(defining ``position'' for purposes of a particular provision 
regarding locality-based comparability payments as types of 
positions, including administrative law judges, contract appeals 
board members, and SES positions); 5 U.S.C. 5531(2) (defining 
positions for purposes of applying dual pay provisions as a specific 
position occupiable by an individual, such as a civilian office or 
civilian positions, including a temporary, part-time, or 
intermittent position, that is appointive or elective in the 
legislative, executive, or judicial branch).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The authority to designate and establish qualified positions and 
the exemptions from existing laws provides the Secretary broad 
discretion to determine how to create and use qualified positions for 
purposes of carrying out the responsibilities of DHS relating to 
cybersecurity. In particular, the exemption relating to classification 
of employees means DHS may determine the use of qualified positions and 
create such positions as new positions in the excepted service without 
regard to existing definitions of positions, or how the concept of 
position is currently used, in management of Federal employees.
    As discussed subsequently in III.B of this document, main factors 
contributing to DHS's challenges recruiting and retaining cybersecurity 
talent are the focus of existing Federal talent management practices on 
narrowly-defined and mostly-static jobs or positions instead of 
individuals and their skills, as well as the inability of current 
Federal classification methods to effectively describe and account for 
individuals' cybersecurity skills. Therefore, as discussed further in 
IV.A.1 of this document, DHS is using the Secretary's broad authority 
and discretion for designating and establishing qualified positions, 
and the exemptions from existing laws, to create a new type of Federal 
civil service position based on individuals and their skills necessary 
for executing the DHS cybersecurity mission. To do this, DHS is 
designing CTMS with new processes, systems, and programs to create and 
use qualified positions based on the DHS cybersecurity mission and 
individuals' skills necessary to execute that mission. Those processes, 
systems, and programs are called CTMS elements and include a new work 
valuation system.
2. Appointment
    Under 6 U.S.C. 658, DHS has authority to create new hiring 
processes for qualified positions without regard to existing 
requirements and processes for hiring Federal civilian employees. 
Section 658(b)(1)(A)(ii) gives the Secretary authority to appoint an 
individual to a qualified position and, under 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(1)(B), 
this

[[Page 47846]]

appointment authority applies without regard to the provisions of any 
other law relating to appointment, number, or classification of 
employees.\30\
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    \30\ The authority to appoint an individual to a qualified 
position also applies without regard to any other provisions of law 
relating to compensation of employees. 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(1)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The exemption relating to appointment of employees means DHS may 
appoint individuals to qualified positions without regard to the Title 
5 hiring requirements and processes, including procedures for accepting 
and reviewing applications, making selections, and appointing 
individuals to positions.\31\ Also, the exemption regarding number of 
employees means there is no statutory limit on the number of qualified 
positions or number of appointments to such positions. As discussed 
previously, provisions of the U.S. Code relating to the number of 
employees may limit the number of positions, or types of positions, or 
limit the number of employees that may be hired into such 
positions.\32\ Although DHS is not limited in the number of 
appointments to qualified positions, funding constraints and 
requirements in DHS appropriations still apply.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ See e.g., 5 U.S.C. Chapter 33, Subchapter I.
    \32\ See e.g., 5 U.S.C. 3131(c) (``The Office of Personnel 
Management, in consultation with the Office of Management and 
Budget, shall review the request of each agency and shall authorize 
. . . a specific number of Senior Executive Service positions for 
each agency''); see also the Federal Employees Pay Act of 1945, Sec. 
607 (controlling the number of employees and establishing personnel 
ceilings within executive branch agencies), repealed Public Law 81-
784 (Sept. 1950).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The exemption relating to classification of employees, discussed 
previously, means DHS may also appoint individuals to qualified 
positions exempt from the GS position classification system and other 
work valuation systems relying on traditional position classification 
concepts and methods. In the context of appointments, Chapter 51 and 
implementing regulations and policy dictate elements of the hiring 
process for GS positions. For example, OPM classification and 
qualification standards, policies, and processes \33\ establish 
procedures used for defining, identifying, and evaluating jobs and 
applicants in order to select individuals for appointment to a GS 
position.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \33\ See U.S. Office of Personnel Management website, 
``Classification & Qualifications,'' https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/ (last visited May 25, 
2021).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As discussed subsequently in III.B of this document, main factors 
contributing to DHS's challenges recruiting and retaining cybersecurity 
talent are the lack of focus of existing Federal talent management 
practices on individuals and their skills, as well as fierce 
competition for those individuals and their skills. Therefore, as 
discussed further in IV.C of this document, DHS is using the 
Secretary's appointment authority, and the exemptions from existing 
laws, to create new hiring processes for qualified positions to recruit 
and hire individuals with mission-critical skills. To do this, DHS 
designed strategic recruitment processes based on leading private 
sector practices and a new skills-based assessment program under a new 
DHS-specific talent acquisition system.
3. Compensation
    Under 6 U.S.C. 658(b), DHS has authority to create a new 
administrative compensation system covering salaries and other types of 
compensation. Section 658(b)(1)(A)(iii) gives authority to set 
compensation for individuals in qualified positions. This Sec.  658 
compensation authority includes specific salary authority in Sec.  
658(b)(2)(A) to fix the rates of basic pay for qualified positions 
subject to limitations on maximum rates of pay. The Sec.  658 
compensation authority also includes specific additional compensation 
authority in Sec.  658(b)(3)(A) to provide compensation in addition to 
basic pay, including benefits, incentives, and allowances.
    The Sec.  658 compensation authority applies without regard to any 
other provisions of law relating to the classification or compensation 
of employees.\34\ As explained previously, the exemption relating to 
classification of employees exempts the authority in 6 U.S.C. 658 from 
the GS position classification system and other Federal work valuation 
systems. In the context of compensation, the GS position classification 
system describes and groups Federal civil service positions to assign 
rates of basic pay under the related GS pay system in 5 U.S.C. Chapter 
53. Thus, the Sec.  658 compensation authority is exempt from the GS 
pay system as well as the GS position classification system under both 
the exemption relating to classification of employees and the exemption 
relating to compensation of employees.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(1)(B). The Sec.  658 compensation authority 
also applies without regard to any other provisions of law relating 
to appointment or number of employees. Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition to laws establishing the GS pay system, the exemption 
relating to compensation of employees exempts the Sec.  658 
compensation authority from other provisions of law relating to 
compensation, which include: Provisions in 5 U.S.C. Chapter 53 
establishing and governing other pay systems; premium pay provisions in 
5 U.S.C. Chapter 55 and the minimum wage and overtime pay provisions of 
the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA); provisions in Title 5 regarding 
monetary awards, incentives, and certain differentials; the limitation 
on annual aggregate compensation in 5 U.S.C. 5307; and provisions in 5 
U.S.C. Chapter 61 governing work schedules, which impacts compensation, 
especially salary and leave.
    The Sec.  658 compensation authority does provide parameters for 
exercising that authority specific to providing basic pay and providing 
additional compensation, and those parameters depend on identifying 
positions that are ``comparable'' to qualified positions designated by 
the Secretary. For Sec.  658 basic pay, the Secretary must identify 
comparable positions in DOD and their associated rates of pay, and then 
fix rates of basic pay for individuals in qualified positions ``in 
relation to'' those DOD rates of pay.\35\ For Sec.  658 additional 
compensation, if the Secretary provides additional compensation, the 
Secretary must identify comparable positions authorized by Title 5, and 
then provide only additional compensation that is ``consistent with, 
and not in excess of the level authorized for,'' those Title 5 
positions.\36\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(2)(A).
    \36\ 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(3)(A).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The language of, and direction in, the Sec.  658 basic pay 
authority and the Sec.  658 additional compensation authority is 
ambiguous, including the implicit initial requirement to identify 
``comparable positions.'' Statutory language for Federal compensation 
systems generally is not straight-forward nor unambiguous, and the 
responsibility of resolving ambiguities in the Federal compensation 
system context has been characterized as inherently complex.\37\

[[Page 47847]]

The compensation authority language in 6 U.S.C. 658 is no exception. To 
implement the Sec.  658 compensation authority, DHS has had to 
interpret the ambiguous statutory language of the basic pay authority 
and the additional compensation authority, as discussed in the 
following three sections of this document: III.A.3.(a) Comparable 
Positions, III.A.3.(b) Basic Pay, and III.A.3.(c) Additional 
Compensation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ In 2012, the Comptroller General noted ``the extraordinary 
complexity of the [F]ederal pay systems and the difficulties we have 
encountered in attempting to resolve ambiguities arising from pay 
laws enacted at different times over nearly 70 years ago.'' 
Comptroller General Opinion, Pay for Consultants and Scientists 
Appointed under Title 42, B-323357 (July 12, 2012) (determining that 
the pay cap in 5 U.S.C. 5373 is inapplicable to pay for consultants 
and scientists appointed under 42 U.S.C. 209(f) or (g), but that 
such pay is limited by an appropriations cap), 1. The Comptroller 
General referenced a D.C. Circuit case that also noted the inherent 
complexity in resolving ambiguities in the Federal compensation 
context. Id. That D.C. Circuit case explained that in 1983 there 
were six discrete Federal civilian pay systems and ``depending on 
the degree of disaggregation, over forty other, separate pay 
systems. These pay systems vary considerably in the number of 
employees covered and method for determining pay.'' International 
Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots v. Brown, 698 F.2d 536, 539 
(D.C. Cir. 1983), 698 F.2d 536, 538-39 (holding that the pay cap in 
5 U.S.C. 5373 applies to government mariners whose pay is set in 
accordance with prevailing rates and practices in the maritime 
industry). The Comptroller General also commented: ``The statutory 
scheme has only become more complex since 1983.'' Comptroller 
General Opinion, B-323357 at 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(a) Comparable Positions
    Section 658 does not define or identify comparable positions in 
DOD, comparable positions authorized by Title 5, nor what makes such 
positions ``comparable'' to qualified positions. As mentioned 
previously, and discussed in IV.A of this document, DHS is using the 
Secretary's broad authority and discretion for designating and 
establishing qualified positions to create qualified positions as a new 
type of Federal civil service position based on the DHS cybersecurity 
mission and individuals' skills necessary to execute that mission. As 
such, there are no existing positions in DOD nor existing positions 
authorized by Title 5 that are obvious ``comparable positions'' to this 
new type of position for the purposes of implementing the Sec.  658 
basic pay authority and the Sec.  658 additional compensation 
authority. Consequently, DHS must determine which positions in DOD, and 
which positions authorized by Title 5, are comparable to this new type 
of Federal civil service position.
    DHS interprets ``comparable positions'' to mean positions that have 
characteristics in common with a qualified position. A dictionary 
definition of the term ``comparable'' can mean ``similar'' or ``capable 
of being compared;'' however, only the ``similar'' definition provides 
guidance.\38\ Most--if not all--Federal civil service positions are 
``comparable'' in the sense that they are capable of being be compared 
to one another based on some criteria or using a consistent metric. The 
ability or a process to compare positions does not result in 
identifying positions in DOD and positions authorized by Title 5 that 
are ``comparable'' for the purpose of implementing the Sec.  658 basic 
pay authority and the Sec.  658 additional compensation authority.\39\ 
A dictionary definition of the term ``similar'' is ``alike in substance 
or essentials'' or ``having characteristics in common.'' \40\ Thus, 
positions that are ``comparable'' are ones that are alike in substance 
or essentials or have characteristics in common.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ United States v. Cinemark USA Inc., 348 F.3d 569 (6th Cir. 
2003) (determining that ``comparable'' has two possible meanings 
under a dictionary definition: (1) ``similar,'' and (2) ``capable of 
being compared and concluding that the term ``comparable'' had to 
mean ``similar'' in order to give substantive meaning to that term).
    \39\ Id. at 573 (explaining: ``While the word `comparable' can 
mean `capable of being compared,' such an interpretation would give 
the word no substantive content in this context. The other--
obviously intended--meaning of `comparable' is `similar.' Thus, in 
ordinary parlance, if the prices at one store or restaurant are ten 
times those of a competitor, one would not say that the prices are 
`comparable,' even though they can obviously be compared'').
    \40\ Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/similar (last visited May 25, 2021).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The main characteristics of a qualified position can be described 
as a link to the DHS cybersecurity mission and an emphasis on an 
individual's skills necessary to execute that mission. Thus, 
``comparable positions'' in DOD and authorized by Title 5, are those 
that also have (1) a link to cybersecurity responsibilities of an 
agency, and (2) an emphasis on an individual's skills necessary to 
perform cybersecurity work. Some positions in DOD and some positions 
authorized by Title 5 have these characteristics in common with 
qualified positions, and thus are ``comparable'' to qualified 
positions. Note that positions classified using traditional Federal 
position classification methods, including the GS position 
classification system, do not emphasize an individual's skills. As 
explained in III.B.2 of this document, traditional Federal position 
classification primarily focuses on the work of a position and only 
minimally accounts for the skills an individual brings to the work of a 
position and how such skills may influence the performance of work.
    Positions in DOD that have or could have a link to cybersecurity 
responsibilities and an emphasis on an individual's skills, and thus 
are comparable positions in DOD for purposes of implementing the Sec.  
658 basic pay authority, include the following eleven types of 
positions:
     Senior Level/Scientific or Professional (SL/ST) positions 
under 5 U.S.C. 5376;
     Senior Executive Service (SES) positions under 5 U.S.C. 
Chapter 31, Subchapter II;
     Experts and consultants positions under 5 U.S.C. 3109;
     Critical pay positions under 5 U.S.C. 5377;
     DOD CES positions under 10 U.S.C. 1599f;
     DOD DCIPS positions under 10 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.;
     DOD highly qualified experts (DOD HQE) positions under 5 
U.S.C. 9903;
     Intelligence Community highly qualified experts (IC HQE) 
under 50 U.S.C. 3024(f)(3)(A)(iii);
     Intelligence Community (IC) critical pay positions under 
50 U.S.C. 3024(s);
     Scientific and Technology Reinvention Laboratories (STRL) 
positions under 10 U.S.C. 2358c; and
     Pilot cybersecurity professional positions under section 
1110 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2018.\41\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ Public Law 115-91 (Dec. 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Positions ``authorized by [T]itle 5,'' while not clearly defined, 
at least include positions specifically authorized in Title 5 
provisions. Five of the eleven types of comparable positions in DOD are 
also authorized in Title 5 provisions. Thus, positions authorized by 
Title 5 that have or could have a link to cybersecurity 
responsibilities and an emphasis on an individual's skills, and are 
therefore comparable positions authorized by Title 5 for purposes of 
implementing the Sec.  658 additional compensation authority, include 
at least the following types of positions:
     SL/ST positions under 5 U.S.C. 5376;
     SES positions under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 31, Subchapter II;
     Experts and consultants positions under 5 U.S.C. 3109;
     Critical pay positions under 5 U.S.C. 5377; and
     DOD HQE positions under 5 U.S.C. 9903.

[[Page 47848]]

    It is important to note that the eleven types of comparable 
positions are each comparable to a qualified position. As such, a 
qualified position is simultaneously comparable to each of these eleven 
types of comparable positions. This one-to-many relationship between a 
qualified position and the eleven types of comparable positions affects 
how DHS interprets and implements the Sec.  658 basic pay authority and 
the Sec.  658 additional compensation authority, as discussed in the 
following two sections, III.A.3.(b) Basic Pay and III.A.3.(c) 
Additional Compensation.
(b) Basic Pay
    Section 658(b)(2)(A) provides the Secretary basic pay authority and 
parameters for exercising that authority by requiring the Secretary fix 
rates of basic pay for qualified positions ``in relation to the rates 
of pay provided for employees in comparable positions in the Department 
of Defense and subject to the same limitation on maximum rates of pay 
established for such employees by law or regulation.'' This authority 
to fix rates of basic pay is authority to create and administer a new 
salary system with a salary range and policies for setting and 
adjusting salaries.\42\ Under 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(1)(B), the new salary 
system is exempt from any other laws relating to classification or 
compensation of employees, including the GS position classification 
system and the associated GS pay system.\43\ The new salary system, 
however, must adhere to the two parameters in the Sec.  658 basic pay 
authority regarding rates of pay and maximum rates.
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    \42\ Section 658(b)(2)(B) also provides the Secretary 
discretionary authority for establishing a prevailing rate system, 
which is not addressed by this rulemaking.
    \43\ The new salary system is also exempt from any other laws 
relating to the appointment or number of employees. 6 U.S.C. 
658(b)(1)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(i) Rates of Pay and Pay Ranges
    To ensure salaries under the new salary system are set in relation 
to the rates of pay provided for employees in comparable positions in 
DOD,\44\ the Department must interpret the ambiguous ``in relation to'' 
requirement, and apply it using the rates of pay for the eleven types 
of comparable positions in DOD.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \44\ 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(2)(A).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rates of pay are organized as pay ranges with a minimum rate and 
maximum rate. The rates of pay provided for the eleven types of 
comparable positions in DOD are nine different pay ranges established 
in statute and DOD implementing documents. Because a qualified position 
is simultaneously comparable to each type of comparable position in 
DOD, all nine pay ranges are relevant in applying the ``in relation 
to'' requirement. The nine pay ranges for the eleven types of 
comparable positions in DOD are as follows:

           Table 1--Pay Ranges for Comparable Positions in DOD
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Pay range
---------------------------------------------------  Comparable position
        Minimum rate              Maximum rate             in DOD
------------------------------------------------------------------------
No minimum T1...............  GS-15 step 10 T2....  Experts and
                                                     consultants
                                                     positions.
GG-7 or pay band 2 T3.......  EX-IV T4............  DOD CES and DOD
                                                     DCIPS positions.
n/a.........................  EX-IV T5............  DOD HQE positions.
120 percent of GS-15 minimum  EX-II (with an OPM-   SL/ST and SES
 basic pay T6.                 certified             positions.
                               performance
                               appraisal system,
                               otherwise EX-III)
                               T7.
Not less than the rate        EX-I T9.............  Critical pay
 otherwise payable if not                            positions.
 determined critical T8.
n/a.........................  EX-I with Director    IC critical pay
                               of National           positions.
                               Intelligence
                               approval otherwise
                               EX-II T10.
n/a.........................  Vice President's      IC HQE positions.
                               salary T11.
n/a.........................  150 percent of EX-I   STRL positions.
                               T12.
n/a.........................  No maximum T13......  Pilot cybersecurity
                                                     professional
                                                     positions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T1 5 U.S.C. 3109(b).
T2 Id. This authority for expert and consultants positions also includes
  an authority to supersede this maximum rate when specifically
  authorized by appropriation or other statute.
T3 DODI 1400.25-V3007, DOD Civilian Personnel Management System: Cyber
  Excepted Service (CES) Occupational Structure (Aug. 15, 2017), 6
  (Entry/Developmental Work Level 1 for Professional Work Category in
  CES Occupational Structure); DODI 1400.25-V2007, DOD Civilian
  Personnel Management System: Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel
  System (DCIPS) Compensation Administration (Apr. 17, 2012), 27 (Entry/
  Developmental Work Level 1 for Professional Work Category in DCIPS
  Occupational Structure).
T4 DODI 1400.25-V3006, DOD Civilian Personnel Management System: Cyber
  Excepted Service (CES) Compensation Administration (Aug. 15, 2017), 4
  (``basic rates of pay will comply with the maximum pay limitation of
  Level IV of the Executive Schedule for basic pay''); DODI 1400.25-
  V2006, DOD Civilian Personnel Management System: Defense Civilian
  Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Compensation Administration
  (Mar. 3, 2012, incorporating changes effective July 6, 2020), 9
  (``adjusted basic pay may not exceed the rate of Level IV of the
  Executive Schedule'').
T5 5 U.S.C. 9903(b).
T6 5 U.S.C. 5376(b) and 5382.
T7 Id.
T8 5 U.S.C. 5377(d).
T9 Id. This authority for critical pay positions also includes an
  authority to supersede this maximum rate with written approval from
  the President.
T10 50 U.S.C. 3024(s). This authority for IC critical pay positions also
  includes an authority to supersede this maximum rate with presidential
  approval.
T11 ICD 623, Intelligence Community Directive Number 623, Appointment of
  Highly Qualified Experts (Oct. 16, 2008), 4 (``The DNI may set the
  rate of basic pay for HQEs up to or equal to the salary of the Vice
  President of the United States (as established by 3 U.S.C. 104)'').
T12 10 U.S.C. 2358c(d) s.
T13 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, Public Law
  115-91, Sec. 1110(f), (Dec. 2017).


[[Page 47849]]

    DHS interprets the ``in relation to'' requirement to mean that the 
Secretary has discretion to establish and operate a new salary system 
within the boundaries provided by the nine rate ranges for the eleven 
types of comparable positions in DOD. Congress has used a similar ``in 
relation to'' requirement in other compensation authorities, and courts 
have held that such a requirement provides boundaries for determining 
appropriate salaries under a compensation authority.\45\ The courts 
also concluded that such a requirement gives the agency head discretion 
to fill in the details within those boundaries.\46\ Legislative history 
indicates that 6 U.S.C. 658 grants compensation flexibilities to better 
recruit and retain cybersecurity talent with more competitive 
compensation.\47\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \45\ Crawford v. U. S., 179 Ct. Cl. 128 (1967) cert. denied 389 
U.S. 1041 (1968) (construing ``in relation to'' in Section 2353(c) 
of the Overseas Teacher Pay and Personnel Practices Act of 1959 
(Pub. L. 86-91), which directed: ``The Secretary of each military 
department shall fix the rates of basic compensation of teachers and 
teaching positions in his military department in relation to the 
rates of basic compensation for similar positions in the United 
States . . .''); Homezell Chambers v. U.S, 306 F.Supp. 317 (E.D. Va 
1969) (also construing the Section 2353(c) of the Overseas Teach Pay 
and Personnel Practices Act of 1959); see also Reinheimer v. Panama 
Canal Co., 413 F.2d 153 (5th 1969) (construing ``in relation to'' in 
section 144(b) of title 2 of the Canal Zone Code (Pub. L. 73-431), 
which directed salaries for employees of the Panama Canal Zone ``may 
be established and revised in relation to rates of compensation for 
the same or similar work performed in the continental United 
States,'' as not meaning ``equal to'' but instead as indicating some 
amount of discretion); Binns v. Panama Canal Co., 459 F.Supp. 956, 
958 (D.C.Z. 1978) (discussing Reinheimer as holding that the ``in 
relation to'' direction in section 144(b) of title 2 of the Canal 
Zone Code ``allows the relational establishment of wages, and 
therefore also allows deviations from wage rates which would be 
identical to those of the same or similar positions in the 
continental United States'').
    \46\ Crawford v. U. S., 179 Ct. Cl. 128, 139 (1968) (stating 
that the authority to fix the rates of basic compensation in 
relation to the rates of basic compensation for similar positions 
``merely set the boundaries of the program allowing the Secretary of 
Defense to fill in the details. Nowhere did Congress fix salaries in 
Public Law 86-91 [Overseas Teachers Pay and Personnel Act], nor did 
it define the positions which were to be looked to in the United 
States as similar to those occupied by the overseas teachers . . . . 
That the Secretary was vested with discretion to issue regulations 
governing the fixing of rates of basic compensation follows 
unmistakably from the grant of authority contained in Section 
2352(a)(2) of the Act [which provided the authority to fix rates of 
basic compensation in relation to other rates of compensation and 
required implementing regulations]''); Homezell Chambers v. U.S, 306 
F.Supp. 317 (E.D. Va 1969) (affirming the Secretary of Defense's 
discretion for determining overseas teacher pay).
    \47\ See supra note 15.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DHS determines that the boundaries of the new salary system, as 
provided by the nine rate ranges for the eleven types of comparable 
positions in DOD, may be from no minimum to 150 percent of EX-I or no 
maximum. The nine rate ranges, presented in Table 1: Rate Ranges for 
Comparable Positions in DOD, have several minimum rates, which start at 
no minimum, and several maximum rates, which range up to 150 percent of 
EX-I and no maximum. As discussed subsequently in III.B of this 
document, the competitiveness of compensation, especially salary, is a 
main factor contributing to DHS's challenges recruiting and retaining 
cybersecurity talent. Therefore, as discussed further in IV.E.3 of this 
document, the Department is using the highest maximum rates for the 
upper boundary for the new salary system.
(ii) Limitations on Maximum Rates and Pay Caps
    To ensure salaries under the new salary system are subject to the 
same limitations on maximum rates for employees in comparable positions 
in DOD established by law or regulation,\48\ DHS must identify the 
``limitations on maximum rates'' for the eleven types of comparable 
positions in DOD, and then apply those same limitations to the new pay 
system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \48\ 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(2)(A).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Just as 6 U.S.C. 658 does not identify comparable positions in DOD, 
it does not prescribe or identify the ``limitations on maximum rates of 
pay'' for those comparable positions. Thus, to implement the ``the same 
limitations on maximum rates'' requirement in 6 U.S.C. 658, DHS must 
interpret the phrase ``limitations on maximum rates'' and apply it 
using the eleven types of comparable positions in DOD.
    DHS interprets ``limitations on maximum rates'' to mean salary 
caps. Congress generally uses the term ``limitation'' within 
compensation statutes to mean a pay or salary cap. U.S. Code sections 
using the term ``limitation'' in a compensation context indicate that 
the term means an amount cap.\49\ When used in conjunction with the 
authority to fix or adjust rates of pay, the term ``limitation'' means 
a salary cap.\50\ These U.S. Code sections also indicate that the term 
``limitation'' often specifically refers to the salary cap for 
administrative pay systems in 5 U.S.C. 5373 or 5306(e).\51\ The Sec.  
658 basic pay authority is authority to create a new administrative 
compensation system; however, under the exemption relating to the 
compensation of employees in Sec.  658(b)(1)(B), the new salary system 
is exempt from the salary cap in 5 U.S.C. 5373 and 5306(e). The new 
system must instead comply with the ``same limitations on maximum 
rates'' requirement in Sec.  658(b)(2)(A).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \49\ See e.g., 5 U.S.C. 5307 (entitled ``Limitation on certain 
payments'' and providing a general amount cap on total compensation, 
which is known as the annual aggregate compensation cap); 5 U.S.C. 
5547 (entitled ``Limitation on premium pay'' and providing an amount 
cap on the aggregate of basic pay and premium pay under Title 5); 
see also 5 U.S.C. 5759(c) and 10 U.S.C. 1091(b).
    \50\ See e.g., 5 U.S.C. 5376 and 5382 (stating that basic pay 
for SL/ST positions and SES positions is not subject to ``the pay 
limitation in section 5306(e) or 5373''); see also 10 U.S.C. 
9414(d); 24 U.S.C. 415(e); and 10 U.S.C. 1587a(e).
    \51\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DHS interprets the ``same limitations on maximum rates'' 
requirement to mean that the new salary system is subject to the same 
salary caps applicable to the eleven types of comparable positions in 
DOD. A maximum rate for a rate range serves as a salary cap. As shown 
previously in Table 1, the pay ranges for the eleven types of 
comparable positions in DOD each have at least one maximum rate, except 
the pay range for pilot cybersecurity professional positions does not 
include a maximum rate. For the comparable positions in DOD that have 
more than one maximum rate, only the highest rate serves as a true 
salary cap because the lower maximum rate can be superseded under 
certain circumstances, whereas the higher rate serves as the absolute 
limit for salaries in that rate range. As such, comparable positions in 
DOD have six different salary caps based on their highest maximum rate. 
Because a qualified position is simultaneously comparable to each type 
of comparable position in DOD, all six salary caps are relevant in 
applying the ``same limitations on maximum rates'' requirement. The six 
relevant salary caps for the eleven types of comparable positions in 
DOD are as follows:

          Table 2--Salary Caps for Comparable Positions in DOD
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Maximum rate                  Comparable position in DOD
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GS-15 step 10.....................  Experts and consultants positions.T1
EX-IV.............................  DOD CES and DOD DCIPS positions; T2
                                     and DOD HQE positions.T3

[[Page 47850]]

 
EX-II.............................  SL/ST and SES positions (with an OPM-
                                     certified performance appraisal
                                     system).T4
EX-I..............................  Critical pay positions; T5 and IC
                                     critical pay positions (with
                                     Director of National Intelligence
                                     approval) T6
Vice President's salary...........  IC HQE positionsT7
150 percent of EX-I...............  STRL positionsT8
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T1 5 U.S.C. 3109(b).
T2 DODI 1400.25-V3006, DOD Civilian Personnel Management System: Cyber
  Excepted Service (CES) Compensation Administration (Aug. 15, 2017), 4,
  and DODI 1400.25-V2006, DOD Civilian Personnel Management System:
  Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Compensation
  Administration (Mar. 3, 2012, incorporating changes effective July 6,
  2020), 9.
T3 5 U.S.C. 9903(b).
T4 5 U.S.C. 5376(b) and 5382.
T5 5 U.S.C. 5377(d).
T6 50 U.S.C. 3024(s).
T7 ICD 623, Intelligence Community Directive Number 623, Appointment of
  Highly Qualified Experts (Oct. 16, 2008), 4.
T8 10 U.S.C. 2358c(d).

    Because the new salary system must set salaries subject to the 
``same'' limitations on maximum rates for employees in comparable 
positions in DOD, each of the six salary caps applies to the new salary 
system. Congress uses the plural term ``limitations'' in the Sec.  658 
basic pay authority, which indicates Congress contemplated, or at least 
accounted for, the possibility of more than one salary cap; however, 
Congress is silent on how multiple salary caps might apply to the new 
salary system.
    With the Secretary's broad authority and discretion for designating 
and establishing qualified positions, determining comparable positions 
in DOD, establishing a salary system within expansive boundaries, and 
identifying salary caps to apply to the new salary system, it follows 
that the Secretary also has implicit authority and discretion for how 
to apply the six applicable salary caps. In exercising this authority 
and discretion, the Secretary must ensure the new salary system is 
subject to the ``same'' salary caps as comparable positions in DOD, and 
as such, DHS is applying all six salary caps to the new salary system, 
as discussed further under IV.E.3 of this document.
(c) Additional Compensation
    Section 658(b)(3)(A) provides the Secretary discretionary 
additional compensation authority and parameters for exercising that 
authority by requiring that any discretionary additional compensation 
for employees in qualified positions, must be ``consistent with, and 
not in excess of the level authorized for, comparable positions 
authorized by [T]itle 5, United States Code.'' Section 658(b)(3)(B) 
also separately mandates one type of additional compensation, 
allowances in nonforeign areas, and also mandates that employees in 
qualified positions are eligible for such allowances under 5 U.S.C. 
5941 on the same basis and to the same extent as if the employees were 
covered under section 5941.
    The Sec.  658 additional compensation authority for both 
discretionary additional compensation and the separate, mandatory 
allowances in nonforeign areas is exempt under 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(1)(B) 
from any other laws relating to compensation.\52\ Any discretionary 
additional compensation DHS provides, however, must adhere to the two 
parameters that such additional compensation is ``consistent with'' 
comparable positions authorized by Title 5 and not in excess of ``the 
level authorized for'' such positions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \52\ The Sec.  658 additional compensation authority is also 
exempt from any other laws relating to the appointment, number, or 
classification of employees. 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(1)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(i) Consistent With
    To provide discretionary additional compensation that is consistent 
with comparable positions authorized by Title 5, DHS must interpret 
this ambiguous ``consistent with'' requirement, and apply it using the 
five types of comparable positions authorized by Title 5. As discussed 
previously in III.C.3 of this document, comparable positions authorized 
by Title 5 include SL/ST, SES, Experts and Consultants, Critical Pay, 
and DOD HQE positions.
    Based on Congress's choice of punctuation and syntax, it is clear 
that discretionary additional compensation must be consistent with 
comparable positions authorized by Title 5. Section 658(b)(3)(A) 
directs that any discretionary additional compensation be ``consistent 
with, and not in excess of the level authorized for, comparable 
positions authorized by [T]itle 5.'' In section 658(b)(3)(A), the 
phrase ``and not in excess of the level authorized for'' is set aside 
by commas and is a non-essential clause that is not necessary for 
reading the rest of the sentence.\53\ The sentence read without the 
clause states that such additional compensation must be ``consistent 
with . . . comparable positions authorized by [T]itle 5.'' Congress 
reads the Sec.  658 additional compensation authority in just this 
manner in the legislative history when it treats the syntax and 
punctuation of the ``consistent with'' requirement as purposeful \54\ 
and omits the non-essential clause in describing the authority.\55\ A 
report accompanying a previous bill, the language of which now is 
codified at 6 U.S.C. 658, does not correct the syntax or punctuation of 
the language, nor does it directly quote the

[[Page 47851]]

language, but uses slightly different language to describe the 
requirement that discretionary additional compensation must be 
consistent with comparable positions authorized by Title 5.\56\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \53\ Non-essential clauses, a type of non-restrictive element, 
do not limit the meaning of the words they modify. See William 
Strunk, The Elements of Style (1st Ed. 2004), 9 (non-restrictive 
elements ``do not limit the application of the words on which they 
depend, but add, parenthetically, statements supplementing those in 
the principal [elements]'').
    \54\ Congress has used the same punctuation and syntax of the 
``consistent with'' requirement since its creation in the bill 
enacted as the DOD DCIPS authority; however, the legislative history 
for the DOD DCIPS authority does not address the ``consistent with'' 
requirement. The draft bill stated:
    (c) Additional Compensation, Incentives, and Allowances--(1) 
Employees in defense intelligence component positions may be paid 
additional compensation, including benefits, incentives, and 
allowances, in accordance with this subpart if, and to the extent, 
authorized in regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. 
(2) Additional compensation under this subsection shall be 
consistent with, and not in excess of the levels authorized for, 
comparable positions authorized by [T]itle 5.
    S. 1745 (104th Congress 2d Session, July 10, 1996), Sec. 1132 
(proposed for 10 U.S.C. 1590(c)) (emphasis added); H.R. 3230 (104th 
Congress 2d Session, July 10, 1996), Sec. 1132 (proposed for 10 
U.S.C. 1590(c) (also providing for allowances while stationed 
outside the continental U.S. or in Alaska tied to the allowance 
under 5 U.S.C. 5941) (emphasis added).
    \55\ S. Rep. 113-207, Report of the Committee on Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate, to accompany S. 
2354, ``To Improve Cybersecurity Recruitment and Retention,'' (July 
14, 2014), 4 (explaining the authority gives DHS authority to 
``grant additional compensation, incentives, and allowances 
consistent with comparable positions authorized by Title 5, United 
States Code'').
    \56\ Id. Note that the additional compensation language of then-
bill S. 2354 is identical to the language codified in 6 U.S.C. 
658(b)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Neither 6 U.S.C. 658 nor the legislative history explain or 
identify how compensation can be consistent with a position. A 
dictionary definition of the phrase ``consistent with'' signals that 
the phrase does not require sameness.\57\ A case addressing the phrase 
``consistent with'' in a corporate merger agreement confirms that 
``consistent with'' does not require sameness, and also indicates that 
this phrase has meaning only when comparing similar things.\58\ 
Additional compensation and positions are not the same, or even similar 
things, and are not usually compared.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \57\ A dictionary definition of ``consistent with'' means 
``marked by harmony, regularity, or steady continuity: free from 
variation or contradiction'' and ``marked by agreement: Compatible-
usually used with with.'' Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consistent (last visited May 25, 2021). Variation'' means 
``the act or process of varying: the state or fact or being varied'' 
and ``vary'' means ``to make a partial change in: make different in 
some attribute or characteristic.'' Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/variation (last visited May 25, 
2021); https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vary (last visited 
May 25, 2021). ``Contradiction'' means ``the act or instance of 
contradicting'' and ``contradict'' means ``to assert the contrary 
of; take issue with'' and ``to imply the opposite or denial of.'' 
Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contradiction (last visited May 25, 2021); https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contradict (last visited May 25, 2021). This 
dictionary definition has limited use because being free from 
variation, which would not permit partial changes, is different from 
being free from contradiction, which would not permit anything that 
is the opposite.
    \58\ Courts have not had an opportunity to consider this or any 
other ``consistent with'' requirement in the Federal compensation 
context. In Vry v. Martine Marietta Materials, Inc., 2003 WL 297309 
(U.S. Dist Court, D. Minnesota) (2003). a district court held that a 
company offered compensation and benefits ``at levels consistent 
with'' prior levels as required by a corporate merger agreement, 
even though new and prior compensation and benefits levels were not 
the same. For example, while an employee's salary did not increase 
as expected, it did not decrease; the 401k plan matching 
contributions by the old company were dollar-to-dollar up to 4 
percent of an employee's contributions, and the new company only 
matched 50-cents-per-dollar, but up to 7 percent of an employee's 
salary; pension plans were different, but the new company's plan 
conferred greater benefits; and health insurance programs differed 
with the old company offering a high deductible plan with negligible 
premiums and the new company offering a plan with monthly premiums, 
15 percent copays, and no deductible, but both plans imposed similar 
burdens on the employee and reflect similar and reasonable 
calculations and allocations of risk from an employee's perspective. 
2003 WL 297309. Note, however, that the court was interpreting 
language that required levels of compensation to be consistent with 
levels of compensation, which differs from the language in 6 U.S.C. 
658 requiring compensation to be consistent with positions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Moreover, most additional compensation provided under Title 5 
depends not on an individual's position, but on whether the individual 
is an ``employee,'' as defined in Title 5. Under Title 5, most types of 
additional compensation are available to an employee, regardless of the 
employee's type of position.\59\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \59\ See e.g., 5 U.S.C. 4502 (making available incentive awards 
of cash awards, honorary recognition, and time-off awards to an 
``employee'' who satisfies other award-specific criteria that do not 
include position type) and 5 U.S.C. 8333 and 8410 (stating that 
retirement annuity is available to ``an employee'' who satisfies 
certain eligibility requirements that do not include position type).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Although the language of the ``consistent with'' requirement is 
ambiguous and confusing, the entire context of 6 U.S.C. 658 indicates 
that the ``consistent with'' requirement can be satisfied by basing 
additional compensation on authorities in Title 5.\60\ The heading of 
the subparagraph providing the discretionary additional compensation 
authority, and the ``consistent with'' requirement, is ``Additional 
Compensation Based on Title 5 Authorities.'' \61\ Therefore, Congress 
characterizes additional compensation that must be consistent with 
comparable positions authorized by Title 5 as being based on Title 5 
authorities. This characterization is in contrast to the subparagraph 
heading mandating allowances in nonforeign areas, which is ``Allowances 
in Nonforeign Areas'' and does not further characterize this type of 
additional compensation.\62\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \60\ ``Statutory construction . . . is a holistic endeavor.'' 
Smith v. U.S., 508 U.S. 223, 233 (1993). The entire context of a 
section or statute may clarify meaning of ambiguous language or 
terminology. See id. (``A provision that may seem ambiguous in 
isolation is often clarified by the remainder of the statutory 
scheme--because the same terminology is used elsewhere in a context 
that makes its meaning clear, or because only one of the permissible 
readings produces a substantive effect that is compatible with the 
rest of the law'').
    \61\ 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(3)(A). This paragraph heading is also 
borrowed from the DOD DCIPS authority at 10 U.S.C. 1603(a). This 
heading was not in the draft bill for the DOD DCIPS authority, but 
Congress added it when Congress moved the additional compensation 
authority to its own paragraph before enactment. Originally, 
Congress included the DOD DCIPS authority for additional 
compensation and nonforeign allowances in one subsection with the 
title: ``Additional Compensation, Incentives, and Allowances.'' S. 
1745 (104th Congress 2d Session, July 10, 1996), Sec. 1132. Congress 
eventually moved these compensation authorities to a separate 
section, codified at 10 U.S.C. 1603, and retained the original 
subsection title as the new section heading in the enacted version. 
Compare 10 U.S.C. 1603 and S. 1745 (104th Congress 2d Session, July 
10, 1996), Sec. 1132. In 10 U.S.C. 1603, Congress placed the 
additional compensation authority in paragraph (a) and added the 
heading indicating that Congress was granting DOD the authority to 
offer additional compensation that is based on Title 5 additional 
compensation provisions.
    \62\ 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(3)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Thus, DHS interprets the ``consistent with'' requirement as being 
satisfied by ensuring any discretionary additional compensation is 
based on Title 5 authorities, and those Title 5 authorities are 
provisions regarding any type of additional compensation. In 6 U.S.C. 
658(b)(3)(A), Congress identifies three types of additional 
compensation: Benefits, incentives, and allowances. The terms 
``benefits,'' ``incentives,'' and ``allowances'' are not defined in 6 
U.S.C. 658, nor in Title 5, but are used in specific chapters, 
subchapters, and sections of Title 5,\63\ along with other terms 
describing additional compensation under Title 5.\64\ Even if a type of 
Title 5 additional compensation is not necessarily a ``benefit,'' 
``incentive,'' or ``allowance,'' Congress gave the Secretary the 
ability to consider such compensation under the Sec.  658 additional 
compensation authority by using the term ``including,'' which signals 
that the list of three possible examples of discretionary additional 
compensation is not exhaustive.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \63\ See e.g. 5 U.S.C. Chapter 45 (``Incentive Awards''), 
Chapter 59 (``Allowances''), and 8903 (``Health benefit plans'').
    \64\ See e.g. 5 U.S.C. 4505a (``Performance-based cash 
awards''), 5379 (``Student loan repayments''), and 6303-6304 
(``Annual leave'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DHS understands this responsibility to base any discretionary 
additional compensation on Title 5 provisions as providing DHS 
discretion over which, if any, types of additional compensation to 
provide, as well as how to provide them. A base or foundation \65\ is 
not usually the entirety of a thing, but it is instead something on 
which more is built. Moreover, in contrast to the language mandating 
allowances in nonforeign areas that explicitly requires following all 
terms and conditions in Title 5 for those allowances, the language of 
the discretionary additional compensation authority does not require 
DHS use the terms and conditions of Title 5 provisions.\66\ Congress 
uses

[[Page 47852]]

entirely different language for the discretionary additional 
compensation, which signals a different requirement for such additional 
compensation.\67\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \65\ A dictionary definition of the verb ``based'' means ``to 
make, form, or serve as a base for'' or ``to find a foundation or 
basis for.'' Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/base (last visited May 25, 2021); see also Black's Law 
Dictionary (5th Ed.) (defining ``basis'' as ``fundamental principle; 
groundwork; support; the foundation or groundwork of anything; that 
upon which anything may rest or the principal component parts of a 
thing'').
    \66\ Section 658(b)(3)(B) mandates that the Secretary provide an 
employee in a qualified position an allowance in nonforeign areas 
under 5 U.S.C. 5941 ``on the same basis and to the same extent as if 
the employee was an employee covered by such section 5941, including 
eligibility conditions, allowance rates, and all other terms and 
conditions in law or regulation.''
    \67\ Russello v. U.S., 464 U.S. 16, 23 (1983)(``[W]here Congress 
includes particular language in one section of a statute but omits 
it in another section of the same Act, it is generally presumed that 
Congress acts intentionally and purposely in the disparate inclusion 
or exclusion''); see also Bailey v. United States, 516 U.S. 137, 146 
(1995) (``We assume that Congress used two terms because it intended 
each term to have a particular, nonsuperfluous meaning. While a 
broad reading of ``use'' undermines virtually any function for 
``carry,'' a more limited, active interpretation of ``use'' 
preserves a meaningful role for ``carries'' as an alternative basis 
for a charge'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DHS must base any discretionary additional compensation on Title 5 
provisions regarding types of additional compensation, and DHS may 
combine and streamline such provisions as long as it is clear which 
specific Title 5 provisions serve as the base or foundation for 
discretionary additional compensation. As discussed subsequently in 
III.B of this document, the current inability to quickly construct and 
nimbly adjust competitive total compensation packages is a main factor 
in DHS's challenges recruiting and retaining cybersecurity talent. 
Therefore, as discussed further in IV.E of this document, DHS is 
combining and streamlining several provisions of Title 5 to establish 
types of additional compensation specific to the new talent management 
system, as well as providing traditional Federal employee benefits, 
such as retirement, health benefits, and insurance programs.
(ii) The Level Authorized
    To provide additional compensation that is not in excess of the 
level authorized for comparable positions authorized by Title 5, DHS 
must identify ``the level'' that applies for the five types of 
comparable positions authorized by Title 5. The definite article 
``the'' in 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(3)(A) limits ``level'' to being a specific 
level authorized for those comparable positions.
    The one, specific level under Title 5 that applies to Title 5 
additional compensation for the five types of comparable positions 
authorized by Title 5 is the aggregate compensation cap in 5 U.S.C. 
5307. The aggregate compensation cap limits certain cash payments if, 
when added to total basic pay, such a payment would cause the 
employee's annual total pay to exceed level I of the Executive Schedule 
(EX) or the salary of the Vice President.\68\ The cap amount that 
applies--EX-I or the salary of the Vice President--depends on position 
type. As discussed previously in III.A.3 of this document, comparable 
positions authorized by Title 5, at the very least, include SL/ST, SES, 
experts and consultants, critical pay, and DOD HQE positions. All 
individuals in such positions that qualify as an ``employee'' are 
subject to the aggregate compensation cap: The EX-I cap amount applies 
to experts and consultants positions and critical pay positions,\69\ 
and the Vice President's salary amount cap applies to SL/ST, SES, and 
DOD HQE positions.\70\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \68\ 5 U.S.C. 5307.
    \69\ 5 U.S.C. 5307(a).
    \70\ 5 U.S.C. 5307(d)(1); 10 U.S.C. 9903(d)(3) (stating 
``[n]otwithstanding any other provision of this section or of 
section 5307,'' no additional payments may be made to an employee in 
an HQE position if such payment would cause the employee's total 
annual compensation to exceed the Vice President's salary).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because discretionary additional compensation must not be in excess 
of the level authorized for comparable positions authorized by Title 5, 
such additional compensation when added to the salary of an employee in 
a qualified position may not cause that employee's aggregate 
compensation to exceed either EX-I or the Vice President's salary. Both 
annual aggregate compensation cap amounts are relevant in applying 
``the level'' to discretionary additional compensation for qualified 
positions because both cap amounts apply for the five types of 
comparable positions authorized by Title 5, and a qualified position is 
simultaneously comparable to each such type of comparable position.
    With the Secretary's broad authority and discretion for designating 
and establishing qualified positions, for determining comparable 
positions authorized by Title 5, for deciding whether to provide 
discretionary additional compensation, including what types and how to 
provide them, and for identifying the aggregate compensation cap as the 
level for such additional compensation, it follows that the Secretary 
also has implicit authority and discretion for how to apply the two cap 
amounts. In exercising this implicit authority and discretion, the 
Secretary must ensure that any discretionary additional compensation 
does not cause aggregate compensation for employees in qualified 
positions to exceed the applicable amount for that limit, and as such, 
DHS is applying both annual aggregate compensation cap amounts, as 
discussed further under IV.E.7 of this document.

B. Need for a New Approach to Cybersecurity Talent Management

    To implement the broad authority and discretion in 6 U.S.C. 658, 
DHS set out to design a cybersecurity talent management system capable 
of solving DHS's historical and ongoing challenges recruiting and 
retaining cybersecurity talent. To do so, the specialized design team 
formed in 2016 analyzed:
     Historical DHS cybersecurity workforce data, including 
input from current DHS employees and leaders about talent requirements 
and gaps;
     notable changes to talent management at Federal agencies 
since the 1970s, including efforts commonly referred to as personnel 
demonstration projects or alternative personnel or pay systems;
     recommendations since the 1980s from non-profits, 
academia, and public service experts related to modernizing the Federal 
civil service and better supporting specialized, technical fields like 
cybersecurity;
     major trends and market forces affecting contemporary 
workers in public service and in the field of cybersecurity; and
     leading practices in both the public and private sectors 
for recruiting and retaining cybersecurity talent.\71\
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    \71\ The specialized DHS team reviewed many studies and reports 
as part of its analysis. The most relevant reference materials are 
listed in V. Appendix: Reference Materials of this document.
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    This analysis confirmed the main factors contributing to DHS's 
challenges recruiting and retaining cybersecurity talent: (1) The ever-
evolving nature of cybersecurity work; (2) an outdated and rigid 
position classification system; and (3) a generic and inflexible 
compensation approach based on position classification. Constant, often 
unpredictable, changes in cybersecurity work require a focus on 
individuals and their skills instead of a focus on narrowly-defined and 
mostly-static jobs or positions created for predictable, stable work. 
Significantly, DHS organizations struggle to effectively describe 
cybersecurity work using outdated and rigid position classification 
methods designed to apply generically across government and myriad 
fields of expertise. DHS organizations also struggle to competitively 
compensate employees using generic and inflexible compensation 
structures that are closely linked to those classification methods.
    The following discussion in III.B.1 through III.B.3 of this 
document explains these main factors and DHS's need for a new approach 
to cybersecurity talent management.

[[Page 47853]]

1. Ever-Evolving Nature of Cybersecurity Work Requires a Focus on the 
Individual
    To adequately accommodate the ever-evolving nature of cybersecurity 
work, DHS must design and operate a new talent management system with a 
greater focus on individuals and individuals' skills instead of 
focusing on narrowly-defined and mostly-static jobs or positions. It is 
important to note that the term ``skills,'' as used in this document, 
encompasses a full array of knowledge, skills, abilities, behaviors, 
aptitudes, competencies, and other characteristics and qualities that 
distinguish talent.
    Cybersecurity work, including the work necessary to execute the 
dynamic DHS cybersecurity mission, constantly changes as technologies 
and threats change. Cybersecurity work is knowledge work that requires 
individuals to apply their skills to solve problems and achieve 
outcomes, often in unpredictable ways. As cybersecurity work changes, 
both the skills necessary to perform that work and how those skills are 
applied to perform that work also change. With cybersecurity work, as 
with some other types of knowledge work, an individual, because of that 
individual's specific skills, can have a significant influence on how 
work activities and tasks are performed as well as the quantity and 
quality of resulting outcomes for the organization.
    Additionally, cybersecurity work is intrinsically 
multidisciplinary, requiring individuals with a variety of skills 
associated with multiple academic disciplines and areas of professional 
specialization. Cybersecurity work is frequently performed in a team 
format in which individuals combine, and recombine, a variety of skills 
to generate effective, and potentially novel, solutions to problems. 
The manner in which they apply their collective skills is unique to the 
circumstances of each problem and cannot always be anticipated or 
described in advance. This collaborative work is often performed on an 
ad hoc or project basis.
    Notably, there is no singular or standard cybersecurity career 
path, and work arrangements for cybersecurity talent continue to 
change. For some contemporary workers, a 30-year Federal career is not 
desirable, and it is increasingly common for individuals to have 
careers with multiple significant shifts between employers, fields of 
work, and types of jobs.\72\ A cybersecurity career may include a 
variety of work arrangements, including part-time work, longer-term 
jobs or assignments, and project-based work for limited periods of 
time. Also, collaborative cybersecurity work is often performed 
entirely through digital means by geographically dispersed individuals.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \72\ See e.g., Bernard Marr, The Future of Work: 5 Important 
Ways Jobs Will Change the 4th Industrial Revolution, Forbes, July 
15, 2019, available at https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2019/07/15/the-future-of-work-5-important-ways-jobs-will-change-in-the-4th-industrial-revolution/#3ffd62b754c7 (last visited May 25, 
2021); see also U.S. Office of Personnel Management, A Fresh Start 
for Federal Pay: The Case for Modernization, (Apr. 2002), 7 and 42.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To succeed amidst such constant changes in cybersecurity work, 
individuals with cybersecurity skills look for career opportunities 
that allow them to continually learn in order to keep their expertise 
current and to acquire new skills.\73\ In coming years, the 
proliferation of machine learning, artificial intelligence, 
collaborative digital technology, and other advances will continue to 
transform cybersecurity work, further reinforcing the requirement for 
individuals performing cybersecurity work to maintain and acquire 
relevant, valuable cybersecurity skills. As cybersecurity work evolves, 
some cybersecurity skills can quickly become obsolete, while some new, 
difficult-to-obtain skills may emerge and become highly prized.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \73\ Id.
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    Currently, the demand for cybersecurity talent is high and the 
supply of cybersecurity talent is low, with studies continuing to 
document and project dramatic critical skills shortages in terms of 
hundreds of thousands of employees.\74\ With this shifting and growing 
skills gap, the competition for cybersecurity talent among Federal 
agencies and the private sector also shifts and grows. With more 
cybersecurity jobs nationally than qualified candidates, many 
individuals with sought-after cybersecurity skills are not active job 
seekers, having secured jobs performing work aligned to their 
interests.\75\ When an individual with uncommon cybersecurity skills 
accepts a new cybersecurity job, it is often after being pursued by 
several organizations interested in the individual's cybersecurity 
expertise.\76\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \74\ See e.g., William Crumpler & James A. Lewis, The 
Cybersecurity Workforce Gap, (Jan. 2019) available at https://www.csis.org/analysis/cybersecurity-workforce-gap (last visited May 
25, 2021); (ISC\2\), Strategies for Building and Growing Strong 
Cybersecurity Teams, (ISC\2\) Cybersecurity Workforce Study, 2019, 
available at https://www.isc2.org/Research/2019-Cybersecurity-Workforce-Study (last visited May 25, 2021); Martin C. Libicki et 
al., H4CKER5 WANTED: An Examination of the Cybersecurity Labor 
Market, National Security Research Division, RAND Corporation (2014) 
available at https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR400/RR430/RAND_RR430.pdf (last visited May 25, 
2021).
    \75\ Id.
    \76\ See e.g., (ISC)\2\, Hiring and Retaining Top Cybersecurity 
Talent: What Employers Need to Know About Cybersecurity Jobseekers 
(2018), available at https://www.isc2.org/Research/Hiring-Top-Cybersecurity-Talent (last visited May 25, 2021).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Private sector employers have adjusted to the evolving nature of 
cybersecurity work, careers, and work arrangements by adopting new 
person- and skill-focused talent management practices that enable them 
to compete for critical talent. Such new practices include: Proactive 
recruitment to identify and seek out individuals who could be 
successful at cybersecurity work, even if they have never held a job in 
the field; eliminating traditional job requirements, like academic 
degrees, to avoid unnecessarily limiting applicant pools; and providing 
training to help employees keep skills current.\77\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \77\ See e.g., (ISC)\2\, Strategies for Building and Growing 
Strong Cybersecurity Teams, (ISC)\2\ Cybersecurity Workforce Study, 
2019, available at https://www.isc2.org/Research/2019-Cybersecurity-Workforce-Study (last visited May 25, 2021); Emil Sayegh, As the End 
of 2020 Approaches, The Cybersecurity Talent Drought Gets Worse, 
Forbes, Sep. 22, 2020, available at https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilsayegh/2020/09/22/as-the-end-of-2020-approaches-the-cybersecurity-talent-drought-gets-worse/?sh=104825545f86 (last 
visited May 25, 2021).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DHS can address its historical and ongoing challenges recruiting 
and retaining cybersecurity talent by designing a new talent management 
system with a focus on the individual and individuals' skills. To do 
so, DHS must create qualified positions based on individuals and 
skills. DHS must design and operate recruitment, application, and 
hiring processes to identify individuals with necessary skills as well 
as individuals likely to perform DHS cybersecurity work successfully, 
including those starting their careers who show promise and have an 
interest in public service. DHS must also design and operate a 
compensation system providing flexibility to adjust to cybersecurity 
talent market demands and recognize how employees influence and 
contribute to the cybersecurity mission. DHS can do this under the 
authority and exemptions in 6 U.S.C. 658, especially the Secretary's 
broad authority and discretion for designating and establishing 
qualified positions and the exemption relating to classification of 
employees.
2. Outdated, Rigid Position Classification Inadequately Describes 
Cybersecurity Work
    Instead of using position classification methods and related talent 
management

[[Page 47854]]

practices, DHS must create a new work valuation system that recognizes 
that cybersecurity work is constantly evolving and that the performance 
of cybersecurity work is highly dependent on the skills of individuals.
    Traditional Federal position classification serves as the 
foundation for many existing Federal civilian talent management 
practices and provides structures that influence talent management for 
much of the Federal civil service across agencies. The design and 
operation of traditional Federal position classification methods, 
however, presume that mission requirements, technology, fields of work, 
and position duties are generally static and stable.\78\ Traditional 
Federal position classification is based on the core concepts that 
Federal work is largely predictable and can be defined and valued using 
the same processes regardless of mission, the nature of the work, or 
the individual performing the work.\79\
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    \78\ U.S. Government Accountability Office reports: Human 
Capital: OPM Needs to Improve the Design, Management, and Oversight 
of the Federal Classification System, GAO-14-677 (July 2014) 14-18; 
Human Capital: Opportunities to Improve Executive Agencies' Hiring 
Process, GAO-03-450 (May 2003), 14.
    \79\ Joseph W. Howe, History of the General Schedule 
Classification System, prepared for the U.S. Office of Personnel 
Management, Final Report FR-02-25 (Mar. 2002) (Howe Final Report FR-
02-25) 8, 91, 93.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Traditional Federal position classification methods are too rigid 
and outdated for cybersecurity talent management at DHS because they 
cannot effectively describe and support the ever-evolving cybersecurity 
work associated with DHS's dynamic cybersecurity mission. Traditional 
Federal position classification has been the foundation of most Federal 
civilian talent management practices since the GS position 
classification system was established in the Classification Act of 
1949,\80\ which was based on the first law regarding work valuation, 
the Classification Act of 1923.\81\ While the core concepts and major 
features of the GS position classification system were established 
almost 100 years ago, they have remained largely unchanged. Notably, 
classification reform was excluded from the largest transformation of 
Federal talent management in the last 50 years, the Civil Service 
Reform Act of 1978.\82\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \80\ Public Law 81-429 (Oct. 28, 1949).
    \81\ Public Law 67-516 (Mar. 4, 1923). The purpose of the 
Classification Act of 1949 was to improve the design and 
administration of the work valuation system from 1923 and improve 
the pay plan that developed around the 1923 work valuation system. 
See Howe Final Report FR-02-25 at 1. The Classification Act of 1923 
was repealed by the Classification Act of 1949, and that Act was 
repealed in 1966 by the law enacting Title 5 and codifying the 
provisions of the Classification Act of 1949 in 5 U.S.C. Chapters 51 
and 53. See Public Law 89-544 (Aug. 1966).
    \82\ Public Law 95-454 (Oct. 1978); Howe Final Report FR-02-25 
at 148 (``The cumulative effect of the new statute and the 
reorganization [the Civils Service Reform Act of 1978 and the 
Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1978] was to change virtually every 
aspect of personnel management--except for job evaluation under the 
General Schedule and the Federal Wage System, both of which were 
untouched by civil service reform'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Traditional Federal position classification primarily focuses on 
the work of a position and minimally accounts for the individual or the 
individual's skills, including how the individual's skills may 
influence the performance of work. For decades scholars and 
practitioners have discussed the problems with traditional Federal 
position classification's ability to describe knowledge work,\83\ 
particularly when multiple disciplines are applied by one position or 
individual and when work assignments change quickly. For example, the 
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently highlighted that, 
almost since the inception of the GS position classification system in 
1949, critics have raised questions about its ability to keep pace with 
the evolving nature of government work.\84\ GAO had previously 
explained: ``The classification process and standard job 
classifications were generally developed decades ago when typical jobs 
were more narrowly defined and, in many cases, were clerical or 
administrative. However, today's knowledge-based organizations' jobs 
require a broader array of tasks that may cross over the narrow and 
rigid boundaries of job classification.'' \85\ GAO emphasized that 
under traditional Federal position classification, ``the resulting job 
classifications and related pay might not match the actual duties of 
the job. This mismatch can hamper efforts to fill the positions with 
the right people.'' \86\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \83\ Knowledge work involves problem solving and leveraging a 
worker's knowledge to accomplish the work, which may be in the form 
of a job, process, task, or goal. Knowledge work is contrasted with 
manual work that involves simple unskilled motions, and adding 
knowledge to that manual work influences the way the motions are put 
together organized and executed. See Peter F. Drucker, Knowledge 
Worker Productivity: The Biggest Challenge, 41 California Management 
Review 79 (Winter 1999).
    \84\ U.S. Government Accountability Office reports: Federal 
Workforce: Talent Management Strategies to Help Agencies Better 
Compete in a Tight Labor Market, GAO-19-723T (Sept. 2019), 5; 
Priority Open Recommendations: Office of Personnel Management, GAO-
19-322SP (Apr. 2019), 2; and Human Capital: OPM Needs to Improve the 
Design, Management, and Oversight of the Federal Classification 
System, GAO-14-677 (July 2014), GAO Highlights section.
    \85\ U.S. Government Accountability Office, Human Capital: 
Opportunities to Improve Executive Agencies' Hiring Process, GAO-03-
450 (May 2003), 14.
    \86\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additionally, position classification standards, which supply the 
criteria for classifying positions, describe work as it existed and was 
performed throughout Federal agencies at the time the standards were 
developed.\87\ Rigid position classification standards are not--and 
have never been--able to adequately support the emerging field of 
cybersecurity or keep pace with rapid changes in how cybersecurity work 
is performed. For example, the first position classification standards 
for the digital computer occupation were published in 1958, but ``rapid 
changes in technology'' necessitated updates to those newly published 
standards only one year later in 1959.\88\ Decades later in 1989, the 
Merit System Protection Board highlighted that Federal computer-focused 
work was subject to more rapid change than work in other fields.\89\ 
Despite such findings, updates to position classification standards 
related to cybersecurity have remained infrequent, even as 
technological change has accelerated.\90\ Currently, a classification 
determination using outdated position classification standards dictates 
a cybersecurity position's salary under Title 5 and such a 
determination also constricts potential future salary for any 
individual appointed to the position.\91\ Existing position 
classification methods cannot accommodate or address significant 
changes in the cybersecurity work of such a position or easily 
acknowledge changes in the skills needed to perform the work.\92\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \87\ U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Introduction to the 
Position Classification Standards (2009), 20.
    \88\ Howe Final Report FR-02-25 at 78.
    \89\ Id. at 283.
    \90\ See e.g., U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Job Family 
Standard for Administrative Work in the Information Technology 
Group, 2200, (May 2001, revised Aug. 2003, Sept. 2008, May 2011, 
Oct. 2018) (documenting that in the first two decades of the 21st-
century this classification standard was updated only four times, 
and before May 2001, the predecessor Computer Specialist Series, GS-
334, which covered the majority of two-grade interval work in this 
field, was last revised in July 1991).
    \91\ U.S. Office of Personnel Management, A Fresh Start for 
Federal Pay: The Case for Modernization, (Apr. 2002), 27 (``In the 
Federal Government, job evaluation points = grade = base pay. Under 
this approach, job evaluation does not simply inform base pay; it 
dictates base pay) (emphasis original).
    \92\ Id. (``The [Federal compensation] system's architecture and 
guidelines do not permit Federal agencies to allow non-
classification factors--such as the importance of the work to the 
employing agency, salaries paid by competing employers, turnover 
rates, and added value derived from employees acquiring additional 
competencies applicable to the same level of work--to influence base 
pay, other than by notable exception.'')

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[[Page 47855]]

    Congress has long recognized the role traditional Federal position 
classification plays in hampering flexibility and innovation when 
addressing recruitment and retention challenges. As part of authorizing 
a series of human capital flexibilities for civilian intelligence 
organizations in DOD in the 1980s, now consolidated within the DOD 
DCIPS authority,\93\ Congress included an exemption from laws relating 
to ``classification'' for those DOD organizations.\94\ This 
classification exemption in the DCIPS predecessor authorities is the 
origin of the similar exemption relating to classification in 6 U.S.C. 
658(b)(1)(B).\95\ Nearly 40 years ago, in the legislative history for 
one of the DOD DCIPS predecessor authorities, Congress recognized that 
the Defense Intelligence Agency ``must be able to compete effectively 
in the job market for these skills [in foreign intelligence analysis] 
and offer rewarding career prospects to retain personnel.'' \96\ 
Congress also recognized: ``Intelligence personnel management systems 
also need to be flexible to adjust to changing intelligence interests 
as driven by a dynamic world environment.'' \97\ In this legislative 
history, Congress specifically called out the classification exemption 
stating: ``Classification authority would be granted to permit 
establishment of compensation based on individual capabilities and to 
ensure timely assignment and utilization of high quality personnel to 
meet changing intelligence requirements.'' \98\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \93\ The DOD DCIPS authority was a consolidation of two 
predecessor DOD authorities relating to civilian intelligence 
personnel in 10 U.S.C. 1604 specific to the Defense Intelligence 
Agency (DIA) and in 10 U.S.C. 1590 for other civilian intelligence 
officers and employees. See National Defense Appropriations Act for 
Fiscal Year1997 Public Law 104-201, Sec. 1632 and 1633(a) (Sept. 
1996).
    \94\ 10 U.S.C. 1590 (1995) and 10 U.S.C. 1604 (1995).
    \95\ The DOD DCIPS exemption authority came from those two 
predecessor DOD authorities, and the Sec.  658 exemption language 
mirrors the DOD DCIPS exemption authority. See 10 U.S.C. 1590 
(1995); 10 U.S.C. 1604 (1995); and 10 U.S.C. 1601(b) (2014).
    \96\ S. Rep. 98-481, Authorizing Appropriation for Fiscal Year 
1985 For Intelligence Activities of the U.S. Government, The 
Intelligence Community Staff, the Central Intelligence Agency 
Retirement and Disability System (CIARDS), and for other purposes, 
Report [To accompany S. 2713] (May 24, 1984), 8.
    \97\ Id.
    \98\ Id. at 9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The exemption relating to classification in 6 U.S.C. 658 exempts 
DHS from traditional Federal position classification systems and 
methods and allows DHS to establish a new work valuation system to 
serve as a new foundation for new, specialized talent management 
practices. A new work valuation system must have new structures to 
adequately describe ever-evolving DHS cybersecurity work. It must also 
support creating qualified positions based on cybersecurity skills and 
the individuals with those skills and operating new talent management 
practices for those positions. Importantly, a new work valuation system 
is necessary for a new compensation system and must enable and support 
new practices for providing competitive compensation.
3. Generic, Inflexible Compensation Limits Ability To Compete for 
Cybersecurity Talent
    Instead of existing compensation practices linked to traditional 
Federal position classification, DHS needs a new, market-sensitive 
salary system and an agile approach to providing other compensation for 
cybersecurity talent. Current Federal civilian compensation practices 
under Title 5 authority are designed to apply and be administered 
across a range of agencies, missions, and types of work.\99\ DHS needs 
a different compensation approach for the same reasons that DHS needs 
to create a new work valuation system: To recognize that cybersecurity 
work is constantly evolving and to recognize that the performance of 
cybersecurity work is highly dependent on the skills of individuals. 
Changing the underlying work valuation system of a talent management 
system also necessitates changing the connected compensation 
system.\100\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \99\ See generally, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, A Fresh 
Start for Federal Pay: The Case for Modernization, (Apr. 2002), 31-
34.
    \100\ Id. at 4-11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Current compensation approaches for most positions in the Federal 
civil service are based on the same core concepts as traditional 
Federal position classification: Federal work is presumed to be largely 
predictable and able to be described and valued using the same 
processes regardless of mission, the nature of the work, or the 
individual performing the work. Such Federal compensation approaches 
use traditional Federal position classification structures, including 
classes and grades, to facilitate systematic management of Federal 
employees and address internal equity among similar positions across 
Federal agencies.\101\ These structures ensure that positions are 
described and paired with salary rates in a consistent manner using 
generic salary structures, including the GS pay system, that apply 
across myriad fields of work and cannot effectively account for an 
individual's cybersecurity skills or the cybersecurity work an 
individual performs.\102\ For example, the specific requirements for 
salary progression under the GS pay schedule, including grade and step 
increases, assume that an employee becomes better at work, more 
qualified, and more valuable to an agency with each passing year.\103\
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    \101\ See generally, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, A 
Fresh Start for Federal Pay: The Case for Modernization, (Apr. 
2002), 26-30.
    \102\ Id.
    \103\ Id.
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    As discussed previously, however, cybersecurity work is constantly 
changing and performance of DHS cybersecurity work depends on 
individuals with mission-critical skills, which also change as 
technology and threats change. Moreover, the cybersecurity skills that 
are the most valuable to DHS today might not be as valuable to DHS in 
five, ten, or 30 years. For example, DHS, like many cybersecurity 
employers, now needs individuals with skills related to mobile 
technology, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, embedded and 
cyber-physical systems, blockchain, cryptocurrency and ransomware and 
cyber extortion; the DHS cybersecurity mission did not require all 
these skills and specializations ten or even five years ago.
    Additionally, there is a specific, competitive talent market for 
cybersecurity that comprises both cybersecurity talent, which is 
individuals with cybersecurity skills, and cybersecurity employers, 
including Federal agencies and private sector employers. As discussed 
previously, the current demand for cybersecurity talent is high, and 
the supply of cybersecurity talent is low.\104\ This relationship 
between demand for and supply of cybersecurity talent causes 
competition among employers for top cybersecurity talent, and as a 
result, individuals with cybersecurity skills, especially uncommon 
skills, have their choice of employment opportunities.\105\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \104\ See supra note 74.
    \105\ See supra note 76.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In competing for top cybersecurity talent, DHS has the advantage of 
its unique cybersecurity mission. DHS's cybersecurity mission offers 
DHS cybersecurity talent the opportunity to work across organizations 
and with key external partners and stakeholders to identify and 
mitigate national cybersecurity risks. Unfortunately, DHS cannot 
currently compete with compensation packages offered by many

[[Page 47856]]

private sector employers. DHS's ability to offer competitive 
compensation to top cybersecurity talent, including individuals with 
uncommon, mission-critical skills, is limited by generic Federal salary 
structures, inflexible rules and practices for setting and adjusting 
salaries, and inflexible rules and practices for providing other 
compensation.
    In contrast, many private sector employers can offer individuals 
with cybersecurity expertise competitive starting salaries as well as 
the possibility of more rapid raises and significant other 
compensation, such as automatic signing bonuses.\106\ Many private 
sector employers are also able to swiftly adjust their compensation 
packages to recruit and retain top talent, and they do so with an 
understanding of their major competitors and those competitors' 
approaches to compensation. These private sector employers have 
compensation strategies and techniques with built-in agility to respond 
to business or market changes.\107\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \106\ See generally, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, A 
Fresh Start for Federal Pay: The Case for Modernization, (Apr. 
2002), 4-11, 18.
    \107\ Id. at 6, 18.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition to salaries, compensation in the cybersecurity talent 
market includes types of other compensation. DHS could offer other 
compensation using the existing Federal compensation toolset; however, 
it is both cumbersome to use and ineffective for constructing market-
sensitive compensation packages capable of recruiting highly-skilled 
cybersecurity talent.\108\ That toolset comprises a complex set of 
separate types of compensation for specific Federal talent management 
situations and are not intended to form a cohesive set. For example, 
there are multiple types of incentives and cash payments 
available,\109\ and each type applies to a different recruitment or 
retention situation and has different rules and requirements, including 
approvals, amount limitations, and administration processes.\110\ This 
incohesive toolset also is designed to complement generic Federal 
salary structures, and much like those structures, it is designed to 
apply and be administered across a range of agencies, missions, and 
fields of work, and is not intended to be market-sensitive.\111\ To 
construct a competitive compensation package, especially one that is 
responsive to the talent market, requires piecing together these 
separate types of compensation and attempting to do so in a timely 
manner.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \108\ See, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, A Fresh Start 
for Federal Pay: The Case for Modernization, (Apr. 2002), 4 (``The 
divergence between the Federal pay system and the broader world of 
work where the war for talent must be fought has led observers to 
call for reform of the Federal system. To support achievement of the 
Government's strategic goals, a new, more flexible system may be 
called for, one that better supports the strategic management of 
human capital and allows agencies to tailor their pay practices to 
recruit, manage, and retain the talent to accomplish their 
mission'').
    \109\ See e.g., 5 U.S.C. 4502 (providing awards for a 
suggestion, invention, superior accomplishment or other meritorious 
effort); 5 U.S.C. 4503 (providing agency awards for special acts); 5 
U.S.C. 4505a (providing performance-based awards for GS employees); 
5 U.S.C. 4523 (providing foreign language capabilities awards for 
law enforcement officers); and 5 U.S.C. 5753-5754 (providing 
recruitment incentives, relocation incentives, and retention 
incentives).
    \110\ See id. For example, 5 U.S.C. 5753 and 5754 provides 
incentives for recruitment, relocation, and retention, which are 
commonly referred to as the ``3Rs''; however, the 3Rs have separate 
requirements for each of specific situations.
    \111\ See, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, A Fresh Start 
for Federal Pay: The Case for Modernization, (Apr. 2002), 12-16.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The compensation authority in 6 U.S.C. 658, as well as the 
exemptions relating to classification and compensation, allows DHS to 
establish a new compensation system to effectively recruit and retain 
cybersecurity talent by offering competitive compensation. And if DHS 
is creating a new work valuation system, DHS must create a new 
compensation approach that is based on that new work valuation system. 
A new compensation system also must be based on cybersecurity skills, 
people with those skills, and the value of those skills to DHS. Such an 
approach to compensation must be informed both by DHS mission needs and 
trends affecting compensation of individuals with cybersecurity skills 
in the broader cybersecurity talent market. A new compensation system 
must provide flexibility to adjust to cybersecurity talent market 
demands and recognize mission impact, instead of rewarding longevity in 
position or Federal government service; it must also provide 
flexibility to consider an individual's total compensation and quickly 
construct and nimbly adjust a competitive total compensation package.

IV. Discussion of the Rule

    To address the Department's historical and ongoing challenges 
recruiting and retaining cybersecurity talent, DHS is re-envisioning 
talent management for 21st-century cybersecurity work under the 
authority in 6 U.S.C. 658. The result is CTMS.
    CTMS is a mission-driven, person-focused, and market-sensitive 
approach to talent management. CTMS relies on new concepts and 
definitions and features interrelated elements, which are new 
processes, systems, and programs, that are based on leading public and 
private sector talent management practices.
    CTMS is designed to be responsive to the ever-evolving field of 
cybersecurity and the dynamic DHS cybersecurity mission. This 
innovative talent management approach is intended to support and remain 
aligned to the cybersecurity work that executes the DHS cybersecurity 
mission, even as technology, relevant expertise, and cybersecurity work 
arrangements change.
    The result of this approach to talent management is the DHS-CS. The 
DHS-CS comprises qualified positions created under CTMS and employees 
serving in those positions and covered by CTMS.
    The DHS-CS is a new cadre within the broader DHS cybersecurity 
workforce supporting execution of the DHS cybersecurity mission. The 
DHS-CS is not intended to replace the DHS civilian employees and United 
States Coast Guard Military personnel currently performing work 
relating to cybersecurity.
    DHS will first use CTMS and hire the first DHS-CS employees in the 
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and DHS Office 
of the Chief Information Officer (DHS OCIO). DHS will operate CTMS in 
work units consistent with its rights and obligations under the Federal 
Service Labor Management Relations Statute. Additionally, 6 U.S.C. 
658(e) prohibits the involuntary conversion of existing DHS employees 
into the DHS-CS. Accordingly, current DHS employees will not be placed 
into qualified positions or required to join the DHS-CS. All 
individuals interested in supporting the DHS cybersecurity mission by 
serving in the DHS-CS, including current DHS employees, other Federal 
employees, and private citizens, must apply for employment under CTMS.
    DHS is adding a new part 158 to Title 6 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations to implement and govern CTMS and the DHS-CS. Part 158 
contains several subparts setting forth the interrelated CTMS elements 
that function together as a complete talent management system. The 
subparts and sections in part 158 contain internal cross-references 
indicating where one element of the system influences another element.
    Subparts A and B of part 158 address the new approach to talent 
management, new talent management concepts and CTMS-specific 
definitions, and the

[[Page 47857]]

DHS-CS. Subpart C addresses CTMS and DHS-CS leadership. Subpart D 
introduces the CTMS element of strategic talent planning that enables 
CTMS to be mission-driven, person-focused, and market-sensitive. 
Subparts E, F, G, and H address CTMS elements for acquiring talent, 
compensating talent, deploying talent, and developing talent, 
respectively. Subpart I addresses Federal civil service employee rights 
and requirements that apply under CTMS and in the DHS-CS and Subpart J 
addresses CTMS political appointments, known as advisory appointments.
    New part 158 establishes CTMS and the DHS-CS and the policy 
framework for both. Part 158 sets the parameters for how DHS will 
administer CTMS and manage the DHS-CS. Internal DHS policy implementing 
part 158 will provide operational detail. Part 158 implements the 
Secretary's authority in 6 U.S.C. 658 and it is the Secretary or the 
Secretary's designee who establishes and administers CTMS and 
establishes and manages the DHS-CS. Part 158 also makes clear that it 
is the Secretary or the Secretary's designee who establishes and 
administers the CTMS elements, while it is the ``Department'' that 
operates the elements. As defined in Sec.  158.104, the term 
``Department'' means the Department of Homeland Security. In internal 
DHS policy implementing part 158, the Secretary will, as necessary, 
delegate authority and designate and delineate roles and 
responsibilities for specific DHS organizations and officials.

A. New Approach to Talent Management: Subparts A & B

    Subpart A in new 6 CFR part 158 addresses the design, 
establishment, and coverage of CTMS and the DHS-CS, the authority for 
part 158, and new talent management concepts and CTMS-specific 
definitions. Subpart B in new part 158 addresses the DHS-CS and sets 
out the main aspects of the DHS-CS and employment in the DHS-CS.
1. Subpart A--General Provisions
    Part 158, subpart A, General Provisions, contains regulations 
addressing the design and establishment of CTMS. CTMS encompasses the 
definitions and processes, systems, and programs established under part 
158. As stated in Sec.  158.101, CTMS is designed to recruit and retain 
individuals with the qualifications necessary to execute the DHS 
cybersecurity mission. CTMS is also designed to adapt to changes in 
cybersecurity work, the cybersecurity talent market, and the DHS 
cybersecurity mission.
    Along with CTMS, DHS is establishing the DHS-CS. See Sec.  158.101. 
As defined in Sec.  158.104, the DHS-CS comprises all qualified 
positions designated and established under CTMS and all employees 
appointed to qualified positions. DHS hires, compensates, and develops 
DHS-CS employees using CTMS. Section 158.103 explains that part 158 
covers CTMS, the DHS-CS, all individuals interested in joining the DHS-
CS, all DHS-CS employees, and all individuals involved in managing DHS-
CS employees and all individuals involved in any talent management 
actions using CTMS.
    The adaptable design of CTMS enables DHS to manage the DHS-CS with 
a focus on mission-critical qualifications, even as cybersecurity work, 
the cybersecurity talent market, and the DHS cybersecurity mission 
change.
    As discussed previously in III.A of this document, the authority in 
6 U.S.C. 658, especially the authority and discretion for designating 
and establishing qualified positions and the exemption from laws 
relating to classification, enable DHS to create this new mission-
driven, person-focused, and market-sensitive approach. As also 
discussed previously in III.B, DHS needs this new approach for 21st-
century cybersecurity work and to address DHS's challenges recruiting 
and retaining cybersecurity talent.
(a) A New Type of Position: Qualified Positions
    Under part 158, ``qualified position'' means CTMS qualifications 
and DHS-CS cybersecurity work, the combination of which is associable 
with an employee. See Sec.  158.104. The purpose of this conceptual 
definition of qualified position is to capture the relationship between 
CTMS qualifications and DHS-CS cybersecurity work: An individual with 
those qualifications should be able to successfully and proficiently 
perform that range of cybersecurity work. The cybersecurity work of a 
qualified position represents a range of potential DHS cybersecurity 
work, in acknowledgement that qualifications can be applied in a 
variety of ways to produce a variety of work outcomes, including some 
that are hard to predict or describe in detail in advance. DHS also 
uses the term qualified position in the administration and operation of 
CTMS to refer to the specific qualified position established for a DHS-
CS employee upon appointment. A DHS-CS employee's qualified position is 
the employee's assessed CTMS qualifications and the range of work that 
employee can successfully and proficiently perform with those 
qualifications. When DHS documents a DHS-CS employee's qualified 
position as part of recordkeeping under Sec.  158.706, DHS is 
documenting that employee's CTMS qualifications and the employee's 
related range of work.
    DHS is creating qualified positions as a new type of Federal civil 
service position with a focus on individuals and qualifications under 
the Secretary's authority and discretion for designating and 
establishing qualified positions and the exemption from laws relating 
to classification in 6 U.S.C. 658. DHS is not using existing types of 
positions defined under Chapter 51 position classification, or 
processes from Title 5 or other laws, to create qualified positions.
    As explained previously in III.C.1 of this document, under the 
authority and exemptions in 6 U.S.C. 658, DHS may determine the use of 
qualified positions and create such positions as new positions in the 
excepted service. DHS may do so without regard to existing definitions 
of positions, and how the concept of position is currently used, in 
other Federal talent management systems. DHS designates and establishes 
qualified positions based on the DHS cybersecurity mission and the 
skills, or qualifications, individuals must possess to execute that 
mission.
    Designating and establishing qualified positions based on the DHS 
cybersecurity mission and individuals' qualifications implements the 
statutory definition and description of qualified position. Section 658 
defines a qualified position as a position, designated by the 
Secretary, in which the incumbent performs, manages, or supervises 
functions that execute the responsibilities of DHS relating to 
cybersecurity.\112\ The statute also describes qualified positions as 
positions the Secretary, in establishing those positions, determines 
are necessary to carry out DHS's cybersecurity responsibilities.\113\ 
In both instances, the statute vests substantial discretion in the 
Secretary to determine which positions are qualified positions under 
the statute. This rule retains that discretion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \112\ 6 U.S.C. 658(a)(5).
    \113\ 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(1)(A)(i).
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    Designating and establishing qualified positions as a new type of 
position also implements the statutory description of establishing 
qualified positions, which indicates they may be a type of position or 
a category that includes several types of positions. The statutory 
description of establishing qualified positions states

[[Page 47858]]

that qualified positions may include positions ``formerly identified 
as'' SL/ST positions and SES positions.\114\ The ``formerly identified 
as'' language identifies SL/ST positions and SES positions as examples 
of types of positions the Secretary may designate and establish as 
qualified positions.\115\ Thus, qualified positions may be similar to 
SL/ST positions and SES positions, but these non-exhaustive examples do 
not limit the Secretary to creating qualified positions only as SL/ST-
like positions and SES-like positions.\116\
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    \114\ 6 U.S.C. 658(a)(b)(1)(A)(i)(I)-(II).
    \115\ Congress also explicitly excludes any ``qualified 
positions'' established under 6 U.S.C. 658 from the definition of 
``Senior Executive Position'' under Title 5. 5 U.S.C. 3132 
(a)(2)(iii).
    \116\ While the Secretary has broad authority and discretion to 
create qualified positions, the Secretary may not create qualified 
positions from existing DHS positions through the involuntary 
conversion of positions, and DHS employees serving in those 
positions, from the competitive service to the excepted service. 6 
U.S.C. 658(e).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Secretary or designee designates and establishes qualified 
positions in the excepted service as the Secretary or designee 
determines necessary for the most effective execution of the DHS 
cybersecurity mission. See Sec.  158.203. Designating and establishing 
qualified positions is discussed further in IV.A.2 of this document.
(b) A New Definition of ``Qualifications''
    As mentioned previously, DHS is defining individuals' cybersecurity 
skills as ``qualifications'' for purposes of designating and 
establishing qualified positions. Individuals' cybersecurity skills 
encompass a full array of characteristics and qualities that 
distinguish talent.
    Under part 158, ``qualification,'' means a quality of an individual 
that correlates with the successful and proficient performance of 
cybersecurity work, such as capability, experience and training, and 
education and certification. See Sec.  158.104. A capability is a 
cluster of interrelated attributes that is measurable or observable or 
both. A capability under CTMS is analogous to a grouping of 
competencies.\117\ Interrelated attributes under CTMS include 
knowledge, skills, abilities, behaviors, and other characteristics.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \117\ OPM defines a competency as ``a measurable pattern of 
knowledge, skills, abilities, behaviors and other characteristics 
that an individual needs in order to perform work roles or 
occupational functions successfully.'' Office of Personnel 
Management, Delegated Examining Operations Handbook: A Guide for 
Federal Agency Examining Offices (June 2019), page 2-13. Examples of 
competencies include oral communication, flexibility, customer 
service, and leadership. Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DHS must create its own qualifications for its unique cybersecurity 
mission because the field of cybersecurity currently lacks formal, 
universal standards for cybersecurity skills on which to base CTMS 
qualifications. As discussed previously in III.B.1 of this document, 
cybersecurity skills continue to change at a staggering pace because of 
the ever-evolving nature of cybersecurity work. This rapid change 
hampers professionalization in the field of cybersecurity, including 
the establishment of universal standards for cybersecurity skills.\118\ 
Moreover, DHS's unique cybersecurity mission requires specialized 
skills and specific combinations of those skills. Therefore, DHS needs 
to identify, validate, and maintain its own set of qualifications 
necessary to execute the DHS cybersecurity mission, including the 
unique functions and responsibilities of DHS organizations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \118\ See National Research Council, Professionalizing the 
Nation's Cybersecurity Workforce?: Criteria for Decision-Making, The 
National Academies Press (2013) available at https://doi.org/10.17226/18446 (last visited May 25, 2021) (examining workforce 
requirements for cybersecurity and the segments and job functions in 
which professionalization is most needed; the role of assessment 
tools, certification, licensing, and other means for assessing and 
enhancing professionalization; and emerging approaches, such as 
performance-based measure).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DHS identifies CTMS qualifications as part of the strategic talent 
planning process. See Sec. Sec.  158.401 and 158.402. On an ongoing 
basis, DHS identifies the functions that execute the DHS cybersecurity 
mission, the cybersecurity work required to perform, manage, or 
supervise those functions, and the qualifications necessary to perform 
that work. DHS comprehensively identifies DHS cybersecurity work, and 
identifies a set of qualifications necessary to perform that work. This 
comprehensive set of CTMS qualifications reflects the collective 
expertise necessary to execute the DHS cybersecurity mission.
    With the assistance of both industrial and organizational 
psychologists and DHS cybersecurity experts, DHS identifies, documents, 
and verifies those qualifications. To ensure CTMS qualifications are 
appropriately work-related, DHS identifies CTMS qualifications in 
accordance with appropriate legal and professional guidelines, such as 
the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures \119\ and the 
Principles for the Validation and Use of Personnel Selection 
Procedures.\120\
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    \119\ 29 CFR part 1607 and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission, Questions and Answers to Clarify and Provide a Common 
Interpretation of the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection 
Procedures, EEOC-NVTA-1979-1 (Mar. 1, 1979).
    \120\ American Psychological Association, Principles for the 
Validation and Use of Personnel Selection Procedures, (5th Ed. Aug. 
2018), available at https://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/about/policies/personnel-selection-procedures.pdf (last visited May 25, 
2021).
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    DHS organizes CTMS qualifications into broad categories defined 
primarily in terms of capabilities, such as general professional 
capabilities, cybersecurity technical capabilities, and leadership 
capabilities. Such categories of capabilities are further defined using 
proficiency standards or scales. Professional capabilities, such as 
critical analysis, customer orientation, and effective communication, 
are required in some capacity for all DHS cybersecurity work. 
Cybersecurity technical capabilities, such as cybersecurity 
engineering, digital forensics, and vulnerability assessment, are 
required in different combinations and at different proficiency levels 
for specific categories of cybersecurity work. For example, individuals 
performing entry-level cybersecurity work often require very little 
proficiency in technical capabilities to be successful, and those 
performing expert-level, highly-specialized work often require a high 
level of proficiency in one or more technical capabilities to be 
successful. Cybersecurity work related to leading people and 
organizations requires leadership capabilities, such as leading change, 
leading organizations, and resource management, and DHS cybersecurity 
senior leadership requires the highest levels of proficiency in such 
capabilities.
    CTMS qualifications derived from the dynamic DHS cybersecurity 
mission are the core of CTMS and its elements. DHS determines which 
individuals to recruit and retain based on the specific CTMS 
qualifications they are likely to possess and have been demonstrated to 
possess. CTMS qualifications are a key component of the work valuation 
system, the talent acquisition system, the compensation system, the 
performance management program, and the career development program, 
each discussed subsequently in this document.
    DHS is using qualifications as the core of CTMS and may do so under 
the Secretary's authority and discretion for designating and 
establishing qualified positions and the exemption from laws relating 
to classification in 6 U.S.C. 658.
(c) Other Definitions
    In subpart A, Sec.  158.104 defines terms used throughout part 158, 
several of which incorporate new concepts and are specific to CTMS, 
like qualified positions and qualifications, discussed

[[Page 47859]]

previously. Other new terms and definitions in Sec.  158.104 include 
the following:
     ``Assignment'' means a description of a specific subset of 
DHS cybersecurity work and a specific subset of CTMS qualifications 
necessary to perform that work, the combination of which is associable 
with a qualified position. This conceptual definition of assignment 
connects the performance of particular work to broader qualifications 
and cybersecurity work of a qualified position. DHS also uses the term 
assignment in the administration and operation of CTMS to refer to and 
document the details of a DHS-CS employee's current role related to the 
cybersecurity mission. A DHS-CS employee's assignment is a description 
of a specific subset of DHS-CS cybersecurity work, a specific subset of 
the employee's CTMS qualifications, and how the employee is expected to 
apply those qualifications to perform that work. Assignments are 
discussed further in IV.A.2 of this document.
     ``CTMB'' means the Cybersecurity Talent Management Board 
that assists the Secretary, or the Secretary's designee, in 
administering CTMS and managing the DHS-CS. The Secretary or the 
Secretary's designee appoints officials to serve on the CTMB and 
designates the CTMB's Co-Chairs.
     ``Cybersecurity work'' means activity involving mental or 
physical effort, or both, to achieve results relating to cybersecurity.
     ``DHS-CS cybersecurity work'' means the cybersecurity work 
identified based on the DHS cybersecurity mission.
     ``DHS cybersecurity mission'' encompasses all 
responsibilities of DHS relating to cybersecurity and is fully 
described in Sec.  158.201.
     ``Mission impact'' means a DHS-CS employee's influence on 
execution of the DHS cybersecurity mission through application of the 
employee's CTMS qualifications to successfully and proficiently perform 
DHS-CS cybersecurity work. Mission impact is a factor in DHS-CS 
employee compensation, performance management, and development. Mission 
impact is discussed further as part of the compensation system, the 
performance management program, and the career development program in 
IV.E and IV.G, of this document respectively.
     ``Anticipated mission impact'' means the influence DHS 
anticipates an individual to have on execution of the DHS cybersecurity 
mission based on the individual's CTMS qualifications and application 
of those qualifications to successfully and proficiently perform DHS-CS 
cybersecurity work. Anticipated mission impact of an individual 
selected for appointment to a qualified position can be a factor in 
providing compensation for that individual, including initial salary 
and any recognition payment or recognition time-off offered as a 
signing bonus. Anticipated mission impact is discussed further as part 
of the compensation system in IV.E of this document.
     ``Mission-related requirements'' means characteristics of 
an individual's expertise or characteristics of cybersecurity work, or 
both (including cybersecurity talent market-related information), that 
are (1) associated with successful execution of the DHS cybersecurity 
mission, and that are (2) determined by officials with appropriate 
decision-making authority. Mission-related requirements are relevant 
for addressing emerging or urgent mission circumstances that are not 
yet reflected in the set of CTMS qualifications, or that may be 
temporary in nature, but need to be addressed nonetheless. Mission-
related requirements are a factor in salary setting and DHS-CS employee 
recognition under the compensation system, matching DHS-CS employees 
with assignments under the deployment program, and guiding DHS-CS 
employee career progression under the career development program, all 
discussed subsequently.
     ``Strategic talent priorities'' means the priorities for 
CTMS and the DHS-CS set by the Secretary or the Secretary's designee on 
an ongoing basis under Sec.  158.304. The Secretary or the Secretary's 
designee uses strategic talent priorities for administering CTMS and 
managing the DHS-CS. Strategic talent priorities inform strategic 
recruiting under the talent acquisition system, salary setting and DHS-
CS employee recognition under the compensation system, matching DHS-CS 
employees with assignments under the deployment program, and guiding 
DHS-CS employee career progression under the career development 
program, all discussed subsequently.
    Other terms used throughout part 158 that are not necessarily new, 
but are defined in Sec.  158.104 specific to CTMS include the 
following:
     ``Additional compensation'' is several types of CTMS-
specific compensation and is described in Sec.  158.603(c) as 
recognition, other special pay, and other types of compensation such as 
leave and benefits. Note that benefits for Federal employees provided 
under Title 5, such as leave and retirement, are usually treated as 
separate from Federal pay or compensation, but under 6 U.S.C. 658 
benefits are explicitly considered compensation.\121\
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    \121\ 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(3)(A) (``compensation (in addition to 
basic pay), including benefits, incentives, and allowances'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Appointment types under CTMS are: ``renewable 
appointment,'' ``continuing appointment,'' and ``advisory 
appointment.'' Each type of appointment is analogous to a type of 
appointment under Title 5 and is discussed further in IV.C.3. of this 
document.
     ``Cybersecurity talent market'' means the availability, in 
terms of supply and demand, of talent relating to cybersecurity and 
employment relating to cybersecurity, including at other Federal 
agencies such as DOD. DHS analyzes the cybersecurity talent market to 
identify and monitor employment trends and to identify leading 
strategies for recruiting and retaining cybersecurity talent. That 
analysis is part of the strategic talent planning process and informs 
the compensation system, discussed subsequently.
     ``Salary'' means an annual rate of pay under CTMS and is 
basic pay for purposes under Title 5. Note that instead of the term 
basic pay, the term salary is used to describe a DHS-CS employee's 
annual rate of pay.
     ``Talent management'' means a systematic approach to 
linking employees to mission and organizational goals through 
intentional strategies and practices for hiring, compensating, and 
developing employees. DHS purposefully uses the term talent management 
for CTMS because of its focus on people and its association with 
integrated, strategic approaches to recruitment and retention of talent 
in alignment with organizational goals. This contrasts with traditional 
Federal terms, such as human resources and personnel management, which 
are often characterized by tactical execution of administrative 
processes and compliance activities. Note, however, that a ``talent 
management action'' under CTMS has the same meaning as ``personnel 
action'' under Title 5.
     ``Work level'' means a grouping of CTMS qualifications and 
DHS-CS cybersecurity work with sufficiently similar characteristics to 
warrant similar treatment in talent management under CTMS. For example, 
similar characteristics may include level or type of technical 
expertise or a level or type of leadership responsibility. Work level 
is one of the work and career structures established by the new work 
valuation system, and is discussed further in IV.C.3 of this document.

[[Page 47860]]

     ``Work valuation'' means a methodology through which an 
organization defines and evaluates the value of work and the value of 
individuals capable of performing that work. Under CTMS, DHS uses the 
new person-focused work valuation system instead of the GS or another 
traditional Federal position classification system based on 5 U.S.C. 
Chapter 51.
    Other terms used throughout part 158 with definitions set forth in 
Sec.  158.104 include ``DHS-CS employee,'' and ``DHS-CS advisory 
appointee,'' and other terms already defined in law, such as 
``cybersecurity risk,'' ``cybersecurity threat,'' and ``functions,'' 
which are defined in Title 6 of the U.S. Code. An additional term 
defined in Sec.  158.104 is ``CTMS policy,'' which is internal DHS 
policy, and means DHS's decisions implementing and operationalizing the 
regulations in part 158, and includes directives, instructions, and 
operating guidance and procedures for DHS employees.
(d) Authority & Policy Framework
    In subpart A, Sec.  158.102 states that 6 U.S.C. 658 is the 
authority for part 158 and CTMS and explains the scope of that 
authority. As discussed in III.C of this document, DHS has broad 
authority to design and establish CTMS as a new approach to talent 
management and establish the resulting DHS-CS. By statute, the 
Secretary's authority ``applies without regard to the provisions of any 
other law relating to the appointment, number, classification, or 
compensation of employees.'' See 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(1)(B). Consistent with 
this authority, Sec.  158.102 explains that part 158 supersedes all 
other provisions of law and policy relating to appointment, number, 
classification, or compensation of employees that conflict with 6 
U.S.C. 658, the regulations in part 158, or CTMS policy implementing 
part 158. Also, subparts C, D, E, and F each contain a section that 
lists specific provisions of other laws that, under the exemption in 6 
U.S.C. 658 regarding appointment, number, classification, and 
compensation of employees, are inapplicable under CTMS. See Sec. Sec.  
158.405, 158.502, 158.605, and 158.709.
    Section 158.102 also explains that some compensation under CTMS is 
provided in accordance with other provisions of law, including OPM 
regulations, but that CTMS compensation is only authorized under part 
158. Additionally, Sec.  158.102 explains that when some CTMS 
compensation is provided in accordance with relevant provisions of 
other laws, including OPM regulations, DHS follows those other 
provisions to the extent compatible with talent management under CTMS. 
To maintain the integrity of CTMS, DHS may need to modify application 
of relevant provisions of other laws regarding compensation for the 
DHS-CS. This is because some of the terms, or concepts, used in those 
other relevant provisions are not used under CTMS, and DHS may have to 
extrapolate between those terms and concepts and CTMS terms and 
concepts to apply those other provisions.
    The regulations in part 158 set up the policy framework for CTMS 
and the DHS-CS, and DHS administers CTMS and manages the DHS-CS under 
part 158 and CTMS policy implementing part 158, which is internal DHS 
policy. See Sec.  158.101. If DHS determines additional provisions of 
other laws or policy concerning Federal employment apply under CTMS, 
DHS will implement those other laws or policy in CTMS policy. When any 
talent management situation or emerging issue regarding the DHS-CS 
needs clarification, DHS will do so in CTMS policy.
    Section 158.102 also includes a preservation of authority clause to 
ensure it is clear that nothing in part 158 shall be deemed or 
construed to limit the authority under 6 U.S.C. 658 and any further 
implementation or interpretation of that authority. If DHS determines 
any such implementation or interpretation necessitates a change in part 
158, DHS will issue an amendment to this rule.
2. Subpart B--DHS Cybersecurity Service
    Subpart B, DHS Cybersecurity Service, contains regulations 
addressing the DHS cybersecurity mission and the DHS-CS. Regulations in 
subpart B also explain the main aspects of employment for DHS-CS 
employees, including assignments in the DHS-CS. This subpart provides 
an overview of CTMS from an applicant or DHS-CS employee perspective 
and provides references to other rule sections for more information. 
This subpart explains generally the mission-driven, person-focused, 
market-sensitive approach that DHS is establishing under the authority 
and exemptions in 6 U.S.C. 658.
(a) Mission
    The DHS cybersecurity mission drives talent management under CTMS 
and Sec.  158.201 describes the DHS cybersecurity mission for purposes 
of CTMS. This mission encompasses all responsibilities of DHS relating 
to cybersecurity. It is dynamic to keep pace with the evolving 
cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats facing the Nation and to 
adapt to any changes in DHS's cybersecurity responsibilities.
    As part of establishing CTMS, DHS is also establishing the DHS-CS, 
the purpose of which is to enhance the cybersecurity of the Nation 
through the most effective execution of the DHS cybersecurity mission. 
See Sec.  158.202. The DHS-CS comprises all qualified positions 
designated and established under CTMS and all employees serving in 
qualified positions.
(b) Qualified Positions
    DHS designates qualified positions under the deployment program, 
described in Sec.  158.701. See Sec.  158.203. Designating qualified 
positions is part of determining whether DHS needs to use CTMS to 
recruit and retain individuals possessing CTMS qualifications. The 
process of designating qualified positions is set out in Sec.  158.702. 
This process, and the deployment program generally, are discussed 
further in IV.F of this document.
    DHS establishes qualified positions under the talent acquisition 
system, described in Sec.  158.501, by appointing an individual to a 
previously designated qualified position. See Sec.  158.203. DHS 
establishes and fills qualified positions concurrently. The talent 
acquisition system, and the processes for assessing, selecting, and 
appointing an individual, are discussed further in IV.D of this 
document.
(c) DHS-CS Employees
    All employees serving in qualified positions are DHS-CS employees 
and all DHS-CS employees are in the excepted service. DHS hires, 
compensates, and develops DHS-CS employees using CTMS. See Sec.  
158.204. DHS manages the DHS-CS based on DHS-CS core values of 
expertise, innovation, and adaptability, set out in Sec.  158.305 and 
discussed subsequently.
    DHS-CS employees execute the DHS-CS cybersecurity mission by 
applying their CTMS qualifications to perform the DHS-CS cybersecurity 
work of their assignments. See Sec.  158.204. Successful and proficient 
performance of that work results in mission impact, which is defined in 
Sec.  158.104 as the employee's influence on the DHS cybersecurity 
mission. DHS reviews and recognizes a DHS-CS employee based on the 
employee's mission impact. See Sec. Sec.  158.204, 158.630, and 
158.805.
    DHS provides compensation to DHS-CS employees in alignment with the 
CTMS compensation strategy, and compensation under CTMS includes both 
salary and additional

[[Page 47861]]

compensation. See Sec. Sec.  158.204, 158.601, and 158.603. Also, DHS 
strategically and proactively recruits individuals for employment in 
the DHS-CS, and DHS guides the development and career progression of 
DHS-CS employees. See Sec. Sec.  158.204, 158.510, and 158.803.
(d) DHS-CS Assignments
    As explained in Sec.  158.205, each DHS-CS employee has one or more 
assignments during the employee's service in the DHS-CS.
    Each DHS-CS employee receive an initial assignment upon appointment 
to a qualified position. See Sec. Sec.  158.205 and 158.703. A DHS-CS 
employee may later receive a subsequent assignment, but a DHS-CS 
employee may only have one assignment at a time.
    DHS designates and staffs assignments under the deployment program. 
See Sec. Sec.  158.205 and 158.703. The deployment program, and the 
processes for designating and staffing assignments, is discussed 
further in IV.F of this document.

B. CTMS and DHS-CS Leadership: Subpart C

    Subpart C, Leadership, sets up the leadership structure for 
administering CTMS, including the Cybersecurity Talent Management Board 
(CTMB). Subpart C also contains regulations addressing the influence of 
the merit system principles on CTMS and the DHS-CS, and establishing 
strategic talent priorities and DHS-CS core values.
1. Leaders
    As stated in Sec.  158.301, the Secretary, or the Secretary's 
designee, is responsible for administering CTMS and managing the DHS-
CS. This includes establishing and maintaining CTMS policy implementing 
part 158.
    The Cybersecurity Talent Management Board (CTMB) assists the 
Secretary, or the Secretary's designee, in administering CTMS and 
managing the DHS-CS. See Sec.  158.301. The CTMB comprises officials 
representing DHS organizations involved in executing the DHS 
cybersecurity mission and officials responsible for developing and 
administering talent management policy. See Sec.  158.302. The 
Secretary or the Secretary's designee appoints officials to serve on 
the CTMB and designates the CTMB's Co-Chairs.
    The CTMB shapes and monitors CTMS and the DHS-CS. The CTMB 
periodically evaluates whether CTMS is recruiting and retaining 
individuals with the qualifications necessary to execute the DHS 
cybersecurity mission. See Sec.  158.302. The CTMB may use information 
from this evaluation to recommend, or make, adjustments to CTMS, which 
may include improvements to the administration or operation of CTMS 
elements and practices. The CTMB may designate an independent evaluator 
to conduct an evaluation, as necessary.
2. Principles, Priorities, and Core Values
    The Secretary or Secretary's designee, with assistance from the 
CTMB, administers CTMS and manages the DHS-CS based on: Talent 
management principles that address merit system principles, advancing 
equity, and equal employment opportunity; strategic talent priorities 
for CTMS and the DHS-CS; and DHS-CS core values. These principles, 
priorities, and core values are set out in Sec. Sec.  158.303 through 
158.305.
    As stated in Sec.  158.303, CTMS is designed and administered based 
on the core Federal talent management principles of merit and fairness 
embodied by the merit system principles in 5 U.S.C. 2301(b). While CTMS 
is an innovative approach to talent management, featuring new, 
specialized practices not present in many Federal civilian personnel 
systems, CTMS remains a merit system in which Federal employment is 
based on merit and individual competence instead of political 
affiliation, personal relationships, or other non-merit factors. CTMS 
features elements and practices for acknowledging individuals' 
qualifications and ensuring individuals are treated equitably based on 
merit and for ensuring DHS-CS employees are managed in the public 
interest. Additionally, the prohibited personnel practices in 5 U.S.C. 
2302(b) apply to CTMS and the individuals covered by CTMS.
    In addition to the influence of the merit system principles and 
application of prohibited personnel practices, CTMS is designed, and 
administered, and DHS manages the DHS-CS, in accordance with applicable 
anti-discrimination laws and policies. See Sec.  158.303. Talent 
management actions under CTMS that materially affect a term or 
condition of employment must be free from discrimination. See Sec.  
158.303. Through such commitment to anti-discrimination, DHS aims to 
reinforce the design of CTMS as a merit system, in which all 
individuals, including those belonging to underserved communities that 
have been denied consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial 
treatment in cybersecurity and Federal employment historically, are 
treated equitably and without discrimination. In alignment with 
Executive Order 13985, underserved communities for which DHS seeks to 
ensure equal employment opportunity include Black, Latino, and 
Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific 
Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; 
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; 
persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons 
otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.
    Under Sec.  158.304, the Secretary or Secretary's designee, with 
assistance from the CTMB, sets strategic talent priorities for CTMS and 
the DHS-CS on an ongoing basis using a variety of information. 
Importantly, information from strategic talent planning is used to set 
strategic talent management priorities. As discussed subsequently, this 
is information that is generated by the strategic talent planning 
process and its underlying processes, as well as information from 
administering CTMS. Setting strategic talent priorities based on the 
types of information aggregated in strategic talent planning ensures 
that such priorities reflect the latest strategic information about the 
DHS cybersecurity mission, cybersecurity work, and the cybersecurity 
talent market. Other information used in setting strategic talent 
priorities is information from DHS financial planning and strategic 
planning, and DHS priorities outside of CTMS and the DHS-CS. Strategic 
talent priorities are reviewed and updated to ensure that CTMS is 
administered and the DHS-CS is managed in a manner that addresses the 
latest DHS priorities, which may include making adjustments based on 
new mission or market demands.
    Under part 158, strategic talent priorities inform overall 
administration of CTMS and management of the DHS-CS, as well as 
specifically influence strategic recruiting under the CTMS talent 
acquisition system, DHS-CS employee recognition under the CTMS 
compensation system, matching DHS-CS employees with assignments under 
the CTMS deployment program, and guiding DHS-CS employee career 
progression under the CTMS career development program.
    The Secretary or Secretary's designee, with assistance from the 
CTMB, also administers CTMS and manages the DHS-CS using DHS-CS core 
values. As set out in Sec.  158.305, those values are expertise, 
innovation, and adaptability. These core values reinforce the design 
and purpose of CTMS: Adapting to changes in cybersecurity work, the 
cybersecurity talent market, and the

[[Page 47862]]

DHS cybersecurity mission. DHS-CS employees require expertise, 
innovation, and adaptability to keep pace with the ever-evolving nature 
of cybersecurity work and DHS's dynamic cybersecurity mission, as well 
as to remain competitive in the talent market. These core values, and 
managing the DHS-CS using them, also underscores the expectation of 
continual learning for DHS-CS employees. DHS-CS core values influence 
the CTMS performance management program and CTMS career development 
program, and are embedded in the CTMS compensation strategy, all 
discussed subsequently.

C. Strategic Talent Planning: Subpart D

    Subpart D, Strategic Talent Planning, contains regulations 
addressing how DHS establishes and administers a strategic talent 
planning process to enable CTMS to adapt to changes in cybersecurity 
work, the cybersecurity talent market, and the DHS cybersecurity 
mission. The strategic talent planning process comprises several 
processes and systems by which DHS identifies CTMS qualifications and 
DHS-CS cybersecurity work, analyzes the cybersecurity talent market, 
and describes and values DHS-CS cybersecurity work, while also 
aggregating information to inform the overall administration of CTMS 
and management of the DHS-CS. See Sec.  158.401.
    The design of CTMS, especially the strategic talent planning 
process, implements the Secretary's broad discretion to determine how 
to create and use qualified positions, discussed previously in III.A.1 
of this document.
1. DHS-CS Cybersecurity Work & CTMS Qualifications Identification
    As discussed previously, CTMS qualifications are the core of CTMS, 
and CTMS qualifications are derived from the DHS cybersecurity mission. 
DHS identifies CTMS qualifications as part of the strategic talent 
planning process. As part of the strategic talent planning process, DHS 
identifies the functions that execute the DHS cybersecurity mission, as 
well as the cybersecurity work required to perform, manage, or 
supervise those functions, and the set of qualifications necessary to 
perform that work. See Sec.  158.301. On an ongoing basis, DHS updates 
this comprehensive set of CTMS qualifications to ensure it reflects the 
dynamic DHS cybersecurity mission and the collective expertise 
necessary to execute that mission.
    Also, as discussed previously, DHS identifies CTMS qualifications 
in accordance with applicable legal and professional guidelines 
governing the assessment and selection of individuals. Doing so ensures 
the qualifications identified are appropriately work-related and do not 
disproportionately or improperly impact protected individuals or 
groups.
2. CTMS Talent Market Analysis
    As part of the strategic talent planning process, DHS conducts 
analysis of the cybersecurity talent market on an ongoing basis. See 
Sec.  158.403. The analysis includes reviewing data on cybersecurity 
talent across the Nation such as aggregated salary and total 
compensation data in compensation surveys.\122\ As part of market 
analysis, DHS makes compensation comparisons and considers salaries as 
well as types of additional compensation, including bonuses and 
benefits. By examining total compensation or total rewards, which may 
also include non-monetary, work-life balance benefits, DHS is better 
able to more accurately compare features of the CTMS compensation 
system with features of the total compensation or total rewards 
programs of other cybersecurity employers, including private sector 
organizations.
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    \122\ See e.g., Pearl Meyer, 2020 Cyber Security Salary Survey, 
available for purchase at https://www.pearlmeyer.com/knowledge-share/research-report/2020-cyber-security-compensation-survey (last 
visited May 25, 2021).
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    DHS conducts analysis of the cybersecurity talent market using 
generally recognized compensation principles and practices. See Sec.  
158.403. Such principles and practices include fundamental concepts and 
analytical methods often integrated into formal courses of study for 
compensation practitioners.\123\ Such principles and practices are also 
outlined in publications, intended to support compensation 
practitioners when establishing a compensation philosophy, conducting 
competitive compensation analysis, and developing compensation 
structures and processes.\124\ Using these compensation principles and 
practices ensures the design and administration of compensation 
addresses DHS organizational goals and complies with legal 
requirements, including those prohibiting discrimination in 
compensation.
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    \123\ See e.g., eCornell, Compensation Studies Cornell 
Certificate Program, available at https://ecornell.cornell.edu/certificates/human-resources/compensation-studies/ (last visited May 
25, 2021); SHRM, Foundations of Compensation, available at https://store.shrm.org/Foundations-of-Compensation (last visited May 25, 
2021); and WorldatWork, Certified Compensation Professional, 
available at https://www.worldatwork.org/certification/Certified-compensation-professional (last visited May 25, 2021).
    \124\ See e.g., Barry Gerhart and Jerry Newman, Compensation 
(13th Ed. 2020) available for purchase at https://www.mheducation.com/highered/product/compensation-gerhart-newman/M9781260043723.toc.html (last visited May 25, 2021); WorldatWork, 
The WorldatWork Handbook of Total Rewards: A Comprehensive Guide to 
Compensation, Benefits, HR & Employee Engagement (2nd Ed.) available 
for purchase at https://www.worldatwork.org/product/physical/the-worldatwork-handbook-of-total-rewards (last visited May 25, 2021).
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    DHS uses analysis of the cybersecurity talent market to identify 
and monitor trends in both employment for and availability of talent 
related to cybersecurity, including variations in the cost of talent or 
the cost of living in local cybersecurity talent markets, or both. 
Local cybersecurity talent markets are described in Sec.  158.612 as 
the cybersecurity talent markets in geographic areas defined by DHS and 
are discussed further in IV.D. of this document. DHS analyzes average 
cost of talent because such cost can vary significantly in different 
local cybersecurity talent markets. Similarly, variations in cost of 
living can significantly influence how organizations compensate 
cybersecurity employees in specific locations. DHS also uses analysis 
of the cybersecurity talent market to identify leading strategies for 
recruiting and retaining talent related to cybersecurity.
3. CTMS Work Valuation & Work and Career Structures
    As part of the strategic talent planning process, DHS uses a new, 
DHS-specific work valuation system to define and value DHS-CS 
cybersecurity work, with a focus on qualifications necessary to perform 
that work. See Sec.  158.404. As discussed previously in III.A.1 of 
this document, under the authority in 6 U.S.C. 658 DHS may create a new 
person-focused work valuation system. Although DHS is exempt from 
traditional Federal position classification under 6 U.S.C. 658, 
including the GS position classification system, DHS is choosing to use 
a work valuation system to establish structures to facilitate 
systematic management of DHS-CS employees and address internal equity. 
Like traditional Federal position classification that influences many 
aspects of talent management, especially compensation, the CTMS work 
valuation system also influences many aspects of talent management 
under CTMS.
    Like traditional Federal position classification, the CTMS work 
valuation system is a method of work valuation, but features different 
core concepts and different practices. The GS position classification 
system is a system of ``job

[[Page 47863]]

evaluation'' that describes work by delineating it into jobs defined in 
terms of duties, responsibilities, and qualification requirements of a 
position.\125\ As explained previously in III.B.2 of this document, the 
GS position classification system accounts only minimally for the 
individual or the individual's skills, including how the individual's 
skills may influence the performance of work. Although GS position 
classification is based on duties, responsibilities, and qualification 
requirements of positions,\126\ ``the framers of the [GS] job 
evaluation system meant the qualifications requirements inherent in the 
work--an abstract concept--not the qualifications of specific 
individuals.'' \127\
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    \125\ National Academy of Public Administration, Modernizing 
Federal Classification: An Opportunity for Excellence (July 1991), 
xix-xx.
    \126\ 5 U.S.C. 5101(2).
    \127\ Joseph W. Howe, History of the General Schedule 
Classification System, prepared for the U.S. Office of Personnel 
Management, Final Report FR-02-25 (Mar. 2002), 20.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The CTMS work valuation system is a system of ``work evaluation'' 
\128\ that describes cybersecurity work in more flexible, holistic 
terms with a focus on the qualifications of individuals necessary to 
perform DHS cybersecurity work. Creating a new system of work 
valuation, instead of ``job evaluation,'' recognizes that ``jobs have 
become more flexible, dependent upon the job incumbent,'' and that work 
evaluation or valuation ``is a more encompassing concept than job 
evaluation and better captures contributions of the job, person, or 
team.'' \129\
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    \128\ Id.
    \129\ Robert L. Heneman, Ph.D., Work Evaluation: Strategic 
Issues and Alternative Methods, prepared for the U.S. Office of 
Personnel Management, FR-00-20 (July 2000, Revised Feb. 2002), 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The CTMS work valuation system is a person-focused work valuation 
system that DHS uses to determine the value or worth of a DHS-CS 
employee to DHS based on the employee's qualifications.\130\ This is in 
contrast to traditional Federal position classification or work 
valuation methods that determine the value or worth of positions based 
on the duties and responsibilities of the positions, regardless of the 
person in the position.\131\ The design of the CTMS work valuation 
system reflects that the DHS cybersecurity mission is dynamic, 
cybersecurity work is constantly evolving, and that individuals and 
their qualifications significantly influence how cybersecurity work is 
performed. Especially for cybersecurity work, an individual can 
dramatically alter how work is performed, including the tactics, 
techniques, and procedures brought to bear and the quality and quantity 
of outcomes produced.
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    \130\ The new work valuation system is similar to a rank-in-
person work valuation system, which determines the value or worth of 
an employee to the organization based on the employee's skills. See 
U.S. Government Accounting Office, Description of Selected Systems 
for Classifying Federal Civilian Positions and Personnel, GGD-84-90 
(July 1984), 5 (``Assigning Value to Persons''). The new work 
valuation system, however, does not maintain a seniority-based or 
time-based promotion process like rank-in-person systems. See Harry 
J. Thie et al, Future Career Management Systems for U.S. Military 
Officers, Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, MR-470-OSD, prepared 
for the Office of the Secretary of Defense (1994), 89-95 available 
at https://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR470.html (last 
visited May 25, 2021).
    \131\ U.S. Government Accounting Office, Description of Selected 
Systems for Classifying Federal Civilian Positions and Personnel, 
GGD-84-90 (July 1984), 1-2 (``The GS and FWS [Federal Wage Schedule] 
are rank-in-position methods that assess the value of the job rather 
than the job occupant'') and 5 (``Assigning Value to Positions'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The CTMS work valuation system is based on the set of CTMS 
qualifications and the DHS-CS cybersecurity work identified in the 
strategic talent planning process. See Sec.  158.404. The work 
valuation system recognizes that critical qualifications come and go 
with individuals, not positions, and that individuals and the 
qualifications they possess significantly influence how cybersecurity 
work is performed. Individuals, through their respective and collective 
qualifications, influence how problems are tackled, how long 
initiatives take, and how effective new solutions are.
    DHS uses the work valuation system to establish work and career 
structures, such as work levels, titles, ranks, and specializations. 
See Sec.  158.404. DHS establishes such work and career structures by 
grouping and valuing qualifications and categories of qualifications 
based on criticality to the DHS cybersecurity mission. DHS uses these 
CTMS work and career structures instead of GS classes and grades and 
other traditional Federal position classification job structures. Much 
like the classes and grades established by the GS position 
classification system, the work and career structures support a variety 
of aspects of systematic talent management under CTMS.
    DHS uses the work and career structures to organize other elements 
of CTMS and to ensure those other elements maintain a consistent focus 
on qualifications. DHS uses such work and career structures to describe 
and categorize DHS-CS employees, qualified positions, assignments, and 
cybersecurity work. For example, the description of an individual's 
qualified position includes a work level, such as early-career or 
executive, and a title, such as Cybersecurity Specialist or 
Cybersecurity Executive.
    Importantly, DHS uses the work and career structures as part of the 
CTMS compensation system, discussed subsequently, in determining 
compensation for individuals in qualified positions with a focus on 
CTMS qualifications. For example, in setting an individual's initial 
salary, DHS considers applicable work and career structures, including 
the individual's work level. See Sec.  158.620.
    DHS may also use the work and career structures for budget and 
fiscal purposes related to administering CTMS and managing the DHS-CS. 
See Sec.  158.404. This is analogous to how agencies use GS grades and 
occupations to inform resource planning processes.
    As discussed in III.A.1 of this document, the authority in 6 U.S.C. 
658 to create a new talent management system is exempt from the GS 
position classification system, and other work valuation systems 
relying on position classification based on 5 U.S.C. Chapter 51. As 
such, Sec.  158.405 states that Chapter 51 and related laws do not 
apply under CTMS or to the DHS-CS or to talent management under CTMS.
4. Informing CTMS Administration and DHS-CS Management
    DHS aggregates information generated in the processes and systems 
that are part of the strategic talent planning process in order to 
inform all other CTMS elements. See Sec.  158.401. Incorporating this 
information from the strategic talent planning process into the other 
CTMS elements ensures that those elements reflect a strategic 
understanding of internal issues affecting employees in the DHS-CS as 
well as external issues affecting cybersecurity employment generally in 
the cybersecurity talent market.
    For example, information about CTMS qualifications from the 
strategic talent planning process ensures that the talent acquisition 
system remains focused on the qualifications most critical for the DHS 
cybersecurity mission, including newly-identified qualifications that 
DHS had not recruited and assessed talent for previously. Also, 
information from analysis of the cybersecurity talent market ensures 
other elements of CTMS reflect an understanding of the cybersecurity 
talent market and serve to enable DHS to better recruit and retain top 
cybersecurity talent for employment in the DHS-CS.
    As part of strategic talent planning, DHS also aggregates 
information from administering CTMS under the other

[[Page 47864]]

CTMS elements and uses that information to inform CTMS elements. See 
Sec.  158.401. Using information from administering CTMS in this manner 
ensures that the interrelated elements of CTMS function together as a 
complete talent management system. A common, comprehensive set of 
information about the current state of the administration of CTMS 
informs each respective element of CTMS, resulting in coherent, 
intentional practices for hiring, compensating, and developing DHS-CS 
employees. For example, information from the CTMS deployment program 
might indicate that the set of CTMS qualifications does not effectively 
capture the expertise required for some DHS cybersecurity work, and DHS 
needs to update the set of qualification under the strategic talent 
planning process. Similarly, information from the deployment program, 
such as assignments that are difficult to staff, can assist DHS in 
measuring the effectiveness of the talent acquisition system.

D. Acquiring Talent: Subpart E

    Subpart E, Acquiring Talent, contains regulations establishing the 
CTMS talent acquisition system, which involves strategic and proactive 
recruitment, qualifications assessment, and selection and appointment. 
The talent acquisition system aligns with DHS's design for creating and 
using qualified positions under CTMS and implements the appointment 
authority in 6 U.S.C. 658, discussed previously in III.A.2 of this 
document. Under that authority, and the exemptions from laws relating 
to appointment, number, and classification, DHS is creating a new 
talent acquisition system with a focus on CTMS qualifications, finding 
individuals who likely possess those qualifications, and hiring those 
who demonstrate that they do.
1. CTMS Talent Acquisition System
    The CTMS talent acquisition system provides DHS with an enhanced 
ability to identify and hire individuals with CTMS qualifications. The 
talent acquisition system comprises strategies, programs, and processes 
for strategically recruiting individuals, assessing qualifications of 
individuals, and considering and selecting individuals for employment 
in the DHS-CS and appointment to qualified positions. See Sec.  
158.501. The talent acquisition system reflects an emphasis on seeking 
out individuals likely to possess CTMS qualifications and then 
verifying individuals' qualifications before matching those individuals 
with DHS-CS cybersecurity work and finalizing selections.
    DHS establishes and administers the talent acquisition system in 
accordance with applicable legal and professional guidelines governing 
the assessment and selection of individuals. See Sec.  158.501. Those 
guidelines are the same guidelines DHS uses for ensuring qualifications 
identified as part of the strategic talent planning process are work-
related, as discussed previously. Legal and professional guidelines 
used for the talent acquisition system also include the Standards for 
Educational and Psychological Testing.\132\ Such guidelines provide 
frameworks for proper design and use of selection procedures based on 
established scientific findings and generally recognized professional 
practices. Such guidelines also contain principles to assist employers 
in complying with Federal laws prohibiting discriminatory employment 
practices.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \132\ American Psychological Association, The Standards for 
Educational and Psychological Testing, (2014 Ed.), available for 
purchase at https://www.apa.org/science/programs/testing/standards 
(last visited May 25, 2021).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Recruiting, assessing, selecting, and appointing talent under the 
talent acquisition system represents a shift from existing Federal 
hiring practices for other Federal civil service positions. As 
discussed previously in III.A.2 of this document, the authority in 6 
U.S.C. 658 to create a new talent acquisition system is exempt from any 
other provision of law relating to appointment of employees, including 
veterans' preference requirements, as well as other provisions of law 
relating to number or classification of employees. As such, Sec.  
158.502 lists existing laws relating to the process of appointing an 
individual that do not apply under CTMS, to the DHS-CS, or to talent 
management under CTMS.
2. Strategic Recruitment
    Under the CTMS talent acquisition system, DHS strategically and 
proactively recruits individuals likely to possess CTMS qualifications. 
See Sec. Sec.  158.510 and 158.511. DHS develops strategies for 
publicly communicating about the DHS cybersecurity mission and the DHS-
CS, and for recruiting individuals for employment in the DHS-CS.
    DHS develops and updates CTMS recruitment strategies based on CTMS 
qualifications, DHS-CS cybersecurity work, and strategic talent 
priorities. Developing and updating recruitment strategies in this 
manner ensures CTMS recruitment efforts remain effective in supporting 
execution of the dynamic DHS cybersecurity mission and furthering DHS 
goals, such as the advancement of diversity and inclusion in DHS's 
cybersecurity workforce.
    In developing and implementing CTMS recruitment strategies, DHS may 
collaborate with other organizations and groups, including other 
Federal agencies, institutions of higher education, and national 
organizations such as veterans service organizations. DHS recognizes 
that such partnerships can be critical to identifying individuals with 
desired qualifications and encouraging those individuals to apply. As 
part of diversity and inclusion recruitment efforts, DHS anticipates 
collaborating with professional associations and institutions of higher 
education, including historically Black colleges and universities and 
other minority-serving institutions, including Hispanic-serving 
institutions, Tribal colleges and universities, and Asian American and 
Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions. Through such 
collaboration, DHS aims to (1) reinforce the design of CTMS as a merit 
system, which provides equitable treatment; and (2) advance the hiring 
of people from all backgrounds and representing a diverse set of 
perspectives, including individuals belonging to traditionally 
underrepresented or underserved groups. In alignment with Executive 
Order 13985, CTMS recruitment strategies focus on reaching 
underrepresented and underserved groups, including Black, Latino, and 
Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific 
Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; 
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; 
persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons 
otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.
    Additionally, collaborating with DOD, the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, and groups such as veteran service organizations helps DHS to 
consider the availability of preference eligibles for appointment to 
qualified positions as required by 6 U.S.C. 658. As discussed 
previously DHS may create new hiring processes for appointing 
individuals to qualified positions; however under 6 U.S.C. 
658(b)(1)(B), DHS may only appoint an individual to a qualified 
position after taking into consideration the availability of preference 
eligibles for appointment to the position.\133\ As used in 6 U.S.C. 
658, the term ``preference eligible'' has the same

[[Page 47865]]

meaning as that term is defined under Title 5.\134\
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    \133\ 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(1)(A)(ii).
    \134\ 6 U.S.C. 658(a)(4); 5 U.S.C. 2108(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The requirement in 6 U.S.C. 658 to consider the availability of 
preference eligibles for appointment is different from veteran 
preference requirements in the Title 5 that mandates specific 
priorities, procedures, and rules for preference eligibles in 
hiring.\135\ The term ``preference eligible'' for Title 5 purposes, is 
associated with the concept of ``veterans' preference,'' which gives 
advantage to certain veterans and related individuals for appointments 
to Federal civilian positions in order to recognize the sacrifice and 
economic loss suffered by a citizen who has served the Nation in 
uniform and prevent such citizens from being penalized for their time 
in military service when seeking Federal employment.\136\ Congress 
defines ``veterans' preference requirement'' in 5 U.S.C. 2302(e) 
clarifying that the concept of veterans' preference applies to hiring 
as well as to other aspects of civil service staffing, such as 
retention. Congress, however, does not use the term ``veterans' 
preference'' in the Sec.  658 appointment authority. Moreover, the 
Sec.  658 appointment authority is exempt from other provisions of law 
relating to appointment of employees, which includes Title 5 hiring 
processes and related veterans' preference requirements.\137\
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    \135\ Compare 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(1)(A)(ii) and 5 U.S.C. 3309-3320.
    \136\ U.S. Office of Personnel Management website, Veterans 
Service, ``Veterans' Preference in Appointments,'' www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide-for-hr-professionals/.
    \137\ Wilks v. Department of the Army, 91 M.S.R.P 70 (2002) 
(determining that because DOD's authority under 10 U.S.C. 1601 
applies ``without regard to the provisions of any other law relating 
to the appointment . . . of employees,'' then ``Title 5 provisions 
relating to veterans' preference appointment rights do not factor 
into the selections'' under that authority); see also Young v. Fed. 
Mediation & Conciliation Service, 93 M.S.P.R. 99, ] 8 (2002) (``The 
Office of Personnel Management has written that when an agency is 
authorized to make appointment without regard to the civil service 
laws, the agency is thereby empowered to make such appointment 
`without regard to the usual competitive or civil service laws, 
including veterans' preference.' 58 FR 131919, 13192 (Mar. 10, 
1993)'' (emphasis original)).
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    Although the Sec.  658 appointment authority is exempt from 
veterans' preference requirements, the Secretary must consider the 
availability of preference eligibles for appointment, and DHS intends 
to honor the public policy purposes of veterans' preference. DHS 
recognizes that many preference eligibles and veterans likely possess 
the qualifications needed to support the DHS cybersecurity mission, 
especially those that received cybersecurity-focused active duty 
training and experience.
    DHS considers the availability of preference eligibles for 
appointment to qualified positions, and provides such individuals 
advantage in the CTMS talent acquisition system, through strategic 
recruitment. See Sec.  158.510. The new talent acquisition system 
includes strategic recruitment strategies aimed specifically at 
recruiting and hiring preference eligibles and other veterans, 
including individuals with military service experience who might not 
meet the statutory definition of preference eligibles. Strategic 
recruitment of preference eligibles and veterans includes identifying 
preference eligibles and members of the larger veteran community, 
proactively communicating to them about the DHS-CS, and encouraging 
their applications. DHS may tailor and refine CTMS recruitment 
strategies targeting preference eligibles and veterans to ensure such 
strategies further DHS's existing commitment to veteran recruitment, 
hiring, and representation within the DHS workforce. As a result of 
CTMS strategic recruitment efforts, DHS anticipates preference 
eligibles and veterans to be well represented in the population of 
individuals ready to be selected and appointed to qualified positions, 
and matched with assignments in the DHS-CS. Note that because veterans' 
preference requirements do not apply under CTMS, it is unnecessary to 
examine prohibited personnel practices relating to veteran preference 
requirements under the CTMS talent acquisition system.
    In addition to developing and implementing CTMS recruitment 
strategies and collaborating with other organizations and groups, DHS 
uses a variety of other sources to identify individuals or groups of 
individuals for recruitment. See Sec.  158.511. CTMS policy 
implementing CTMS outreach and sourcing will address communication of 
opportunities for employment in the DHS-CS, communication of 
application processes to individuals being recruited or applying for 
employment; and acceptance and treatment of applications for employment 
in the DHS-CS, including minimum application requirements established 
under this subpart. Outreach and sourcing under CTMS is likely use a 
variety of sources of information and communication channels, such as 
social media tools and key industry conferences, to connect with 
individuals and share information.
    Under Sec.  158.512, DHS may provide payment or reimbursement to 
prospective DHS-CS employees for travel to and from pre-employment 
interviews, which may include participating in an assessment process 
under the CTMS assessment program. Reimbursement for any such interview 
expenses are in accordance with existing laws, 5 U.S.C. 5706b and the 
Federal Travel Regulations at 41 CFR chapters 301-304, governing such 
reimbursement.
3. Qualifications-Based Assessment, Selection & Appointment
    Under the CTMS talent acquisition system, DHS determines 
individuals' qualifications under the CTMS assessment program and make 
selections for, and appointments to, qualified positions based on 
individuals' demonstrated CTMS qualifications. See Sec.  158.520. Any 
individual interested in employment in the DHS-CS must participate in 
the CTMS assessment program and meet applicable rating or scoring 
thresholds in the assessment processes in which that individual 
participates. To be eligible for selection and appointment, an 
individual must also meet Federal employment eligibility requirements 
and satisfy applicable employment-related criteria. See Sec.  158.521.
(a) CTMS Assessment Program
    The CTMS assessment program is designed to efficiently and 
accurately determine individuals' qualifications. See Sec.  158.520. 
The assessment program includes one or more assessment processes based 
on CTMS qualifications. Each assessment process compares the 
qualifications of an individual to CTMS qualifications. The assessment 
program is designed to measure qualifications for individuals at all 
career stages, from those just beginning a career in cybersecurity to 
those with years of proven experience working as a cybersecurity 
technical expert or organizational leader. The assessment program is 
also designed to reduce reliance on subjective decision-making and 
avoid potential bias through systematic approaches to assessing 
qualifications with objectivity and fairness.
    The assessment program focuses on requiring applicants to 
demonstrate their qualifications at a particular work level. Applicants 
choose the work level for which they wish to be considered. For 
applicants who are experienced cybersecurity professionals, this 
includes choosing the cybersecurity technical areas in which they are

[[Page 47866]]

interested and for which they wish to be assessed.
    CTMS assessment processes are formal and multi-part, which means an 
applicant may need to participate in one or more standardized 
instruments and procedures intended to measure the applicant's 
qualifications and proficiency in those qualifications. Such 
standardized instruments and procedures include a variety of tools. 
Examples of such standardized instruments and procedures include 
written knowledge tests, computer adaptive tests, work simulations, and 
structured interviews.
    As part of a CTMS assessment process, DHS also may use 
demonstrations of qualifications, such as rewards earned from a 
cybersecurity competition, publication of peer-reviewed cybersecurity 
research, or a patented cybersecurity invention or discovery. The use 
of such demonstrations provides additional options for DHS to assess 
individuals who possess expertise beyond that expected of most 
applicants and enables rapid assessment of such individuals' 
qualifications.
    DHS develops and administers each assessment process, including 
those that use standardized instruments and procedures, in accordance 
with applicable legal and professional guidelines governing the 
assessment and selection of individuals. Such legal and professional 
guidelines are the same guidelines mentioned previously that DHS uses 
to establish and administer the CTMS acquisition system.
    In order to maintain the objectivity and integrity of the CTMS 
assessment program, DHS does not release assessment program materials 
except as otherwise required by law. See Sec.  158.520. Circumstances 
required by law under which DHS would release assessment materials 
include providing individuals with their own testing results. While DHS 
maintains control and security over assessment materials, DHS makes 
available information to assist individuals in understanding the 
purpose of and preparing for participating in the assessment program.
    In addition to participating in the CTMS assessment program, any 
individual interested in employment in the DHS-CS must meet employment 
eligibility requirements and satisfy certain employment-related 
criteria. See Sec.  158.521. Employment eligibility criteria are U.S. 
citizenship requirements and Selective Service System requirements. 
Employment-related criteria includes fitness standards for Federal 
employment and related security requirements, geographic mobility 
requirements, and other criteria related to any aspect of appointment 
to or employment in the DHS-CS. See Sec.  158.521. DHS provides written 
notice of any applicable employment-related criteria as part of an 
offer of appointment to a qualified position, and an individual must 
accept and satisfy those criteria to be appointed. DHS-CS employees 
must continue to satisfy and maintain applicable employment-related 
criteria. Employment-related criteria may change over time and DHS-CS 
employees may be required to accept any changes in that criteria to 
maintain employment in the DHS-CS. Also, DHS may disqualify an 
individual from consideration or appointment to the DHS-CS for 
providing false information to the Department, and other conduct 
described in Sec.  158.521.
(b) DHS-CS Appointments
    DHS selects an individual for employment in the DHS-CS based on the 
individual's qualifications as determined under the CTMS assessment 
program. See Sec.  158.522. Through an individual's participation in 
the assessment program, DHS determines both an individual's CTMS 
qualifications and the DHS-CS cybersecurity work the individual should 
be able to perform successfully and proficiently.
    In addition to the providing preference eligibles advantage in the 
CTMS talent acquisition system through specific strategic recruitment 
strategies, as previously discussed, DHS again considers the 
availability of preference eligibles for appointment to qualified 
positions when selecting an individual for employment in the DHS-CS. 
See Sec.  158.522. Through individuals' participation in the assessment 
program, DHS may encounter cases where more than one individual who 
have met applicable rating or scoring thresholds are undergoing final 
consideration based on their demonstrated CTMS qualifications. When a 
selection is imminent and final consideration includes both preference 
eligibles and non-preference eligibles, the Department carefully 
reviews the demonstrated CTMS qualifications of such individuals, 
weighs any applicable strategic talent priorities, and regards an 
individual's status as a preference eligible as a positive factor in 
accordance with CTMS policy.
    DHS appoints a selected individual to a qualified position under 
the authority in 6 U.S.C. 658. All such appointments are in the 
excepted service and an individual who accepts an appointment to a 
qualified position voluntarily accepts an appointment in the excepted 
service. No qualified position may be established through the non-
competitive conversion of a current Federal employee from an 
appointment made outside the authority in 6 U.S.C 658. See Sec.  
158.522.
    An appointment under CTMS to the DHS-CS is one of three types: A 
renewable appointment, a continuing appointment, or an advisory 
appointment. See Sec. Sec.  158.104, 158.522 and 158.523. A renewable 
appointment is a time-limited appointment to a qualified position for 
up to three years. A renewable appointment is analogous to a time-
limited appointment under Title 5, except a renewable appointment may 
be renewed more than once for time periods up to three years, subject 
to any limitation in CTMS policy regarding the number of renewals. A 
continuing appointment is an appointment to a qualified position 
without a specific time limit and is analogous to a permanent 
appointment under Title 5. An advisory appointment is a political 
appointment to a qualified position governed by part 158, subpart J, 
which addresses advisory appointments and DHS-CS advisory appointees 
generally. An advisory appointment is treated like a Schedule C 
appointment under Title 5, except regarding appointment and 
compensation, which are done under CTMS talent acquisition and 
compensation systems. See Sec. Sec.  158.1001-158.1003. DHS may change 
an unexpired renewable appointment to a continuing appointment for a 
DHS-CS employee receiving a salary in the standard range, subject to 
any additional limitation in CTMS policy. As discussed subsequently, a 
DHS-CS employee receiving a salary in the extended range must be and 
must remain serving in a renewable appointment while receiving a salary 
in the extended range.
    DHS may use CTMS renewable appointments to appoint reemployed 
annuitants and individuals providing uncompensated service, which is 
gratuitous service. See Sec.  158.523. Individuals appointed in this 
manner serve at the will of the Secretary. DHS may only appoint 
individuals to provide uncompensated service if the individual would 
otherwise be eligible to receive a salary under CTMS that is equivalent 
to or higher than EX-IV because such uncompensated service is solely 
for the purpose of experts providing DHS senior leaders with 
specialized advising. As such, the Secretary or designee must approve 
the appointment of each individual providing uncompensated service by 
name and the individual

[[Page 47867]]

must be appointed to a renewable appointment only.
    DHS may also use CTMS appointments to appoint DHS-CS employees 
being restored to duty. See Sec.  158.523. In accordance with 5 CFR 
part 353, which addresses restoration to duty from uniformed service or 
compensable injury, DHS restores to duty a DHS-CS employee who is a 
covered person described in 5 CFR 353.103.
    A DHS-CS employee serves in the same qualified position for the 
duration of employment in the DHS-CS. See Sec.  158.522. In this 
manner, CTMS, as a person-focused approach to talent management, allows 
for a DHS-CS employee's qualified position to evolve over time as the 
employee's career progresses. CTMS does not require a DHS-CS employee 
to change positions in order for DHS to acknowledge enhancements to the 
employee's CTMS qualifications or to recognize the employee with 
greater levels of compensation. A DHS-CS employee may also have the 
opportunity to perform different DHS-CS cybersecurity work or a 
different assignment, including an expanded subset of related work, 
without needing to change positions. DHS-CS employees do not progress 
through their careers at DHS based on longevity in a qualified position 
or through promotions. Career progression under CTMS is based on 
enhancement of CTMS qualifications and salary progression resulting 
from recognition adjustments. See Sec.  158.803.
    As discussed previously in III.B.1 of this document, there is no 
singular or standard career path for individuals with cybersecurity 
skills, and the CTMS talent acquisition system specifically accounts 
for this by ensuring former DHS-CS employees can easily return to the 
DHS-CS. The design of CTMS recognizes the possibility that talent might 
leave the DHS-CS and desire to return to the DHS-CS at a later point in 
time. To facilitate future service in the DHS-CS by former DHS-CS 
employees, under Sec.  158.525 DHS aims to maintain communication with 
former DHS-CS employees and to provide opportunities for former DHS-CS 
employees to be considered for appointment again to qualified 
positions. DHS also aims to acknowledge any enhancements to former DHS-
CS employees' qualifications while outside of the DHS-CS, which might 
affect salaries for such former employees upon return to the DHS-CS.
    Under Sec.  158.525, a former DHS-CS employee must participate 
again in the CTMS assessment program unless DHS determines otherwise 
based on relevant factors. DHS must assess that former DHS-CS 
employee's qualifications again, unless relevant factors indicate that 
an assessment is unnecessary. Such assessment ensures that DHS has the 
latest information about the individual's qualifications, which can 
influence salary and other aspects of talent management under CTMS. 
Factors which might make assessment unnecessary include time elapsed 
since last appointment and similarity of cybersecurity work performed 
since leaving the DHS-CS. For example, a new assessment would likely be 
unnecessary if only a few months have passed since the former DHS-CS 
employee's last appointment to a qualified position.
    Appointment to a renewable or continuing appointment of a former 
DHS-CS advisory appointee, or other political appointee as defined by 
OPM, may be subject to additional requirements, including coordination 
with OPM under laws governing conversion of political appointees to 
non-political excepted service positions. Appointment of a former DHS-
CS employee to an advisory appointment is governed by part 158, subpart 
J.
    As required in 6 U.S.C. 658(d), all individuals appointed under 
CTMS serves an initial service period that constitutes a probationary 
period of three years beginning on the date of appointment. See Sec.  
158.524. Service in the DHS-CS counts toward completion of a current 
initial service period, but service in an appointment outside of the 
DHS-CS does not count. Because of the new approach to talent management 
under CTMS, including the new person-focused work valuation system and 
the new talent acquisition system, service in other Federal 
appointments are not be deemed equivalent or automatically credited as 
such. Also, service as a DHS-CS advisory appointee, as a reemployed 
annuitant in a qualified position, or providing uncompensated service 
in the DHS-CS do not count towards completion of an initial service 
period for any subsequent service in the DHS-CS. See Sec.  158.524. 
Service as a DHS-CS advisory appointee, as a reemployed annuitant, or 
providing uncompensated service is qualitatively different than other 
service in the DHS-CS, either due to its policy-making nature or 
specialized advising status or the Federal retiree status of the 
individual. DHS addresses computations of initial service periods in 
CTMS policy, including accounting for less than full-time work 
schedules and certain absences that may affect computation of a DHS-CS 
employee's initial service period.

E. Compensating Talent: Subpart F

    Subpart F, Compensating Talent, contains regulations addressing the 
CTMS compensation system, including the CTMS salary system and CTMS 
additional compensation. The compensation system implements the 
compensation authority in 6 U.S.C. 658, discussed previously in III.A.3 
of this document. Under that authority in 6 U.S.C. 658 and the 
exemption from laws relating to classification and compensation, DHS is 
creating a new compensation system with a focus on CTMS qualifications, 
individuals with those qualifications, and the value of those 
qualifications to DHS.
1. CTMS Compensation System
    The CTMS compensation system provides DHS with an enhanced ability 
to establish and adjust overall compensation for the DHS-CS based on 
the individual's qualifications, national and local cybersecurity 
talent market trends, and DHS-CS employees' mission impact. The 
compensation system includes the CTMS salary system and CTMS additional 
compensation, both discussed subsequently. See Sec. Sec.  158.601 and 
158.602.
    DHS establishes and administers the compensation system based on a 
compensation strategy. See Sec. Sec.  158.601 and 158.602. The CTMS 
compensation strategy establishes four goals for the compensation 
system. See Sec.  158.601. Those goals provide a framework for ongoing, 
methodical review and maintenance of the compensation system. These 
goals also guide use of the compensation system for recruitment and 
retention purposes.
    The first goal is to ensure the compensation of DHS-CS employees is 
sufficiently competitive to recruit and retain individuals possessing 
CTMS qualifications See Sec.  158.601. As discussed previously in III.B 
of this document, the competitiveness of compensation is a main factor 
contributing to DHS's challenges recruiting and retaining cybersecurity 
talent. To further this compensation strategy goal, DHS determines 
whether compensation is sufficiently competitive by conducting 
cybersecurity talent market analysis to understand if it needs to 
adjust aspects of compensation, such as salary ranges, to account for 
trends in the cybersecurity talent market. In addition, DHS aims to 
maintain sufficiently competitive compensation by analyzing data 
regarding the effectiveness of CTMS in recruiting and retaining DHS-CS 
employees, including the degree to

[[Page 47868]]

which application abandonment, appointment offer rejection, and 
employee attrition rates can be attributed to individuals' 
dissatisfaction with compensation.
    The second goal under the CTMS compensation strategy is to value, 
encourage, and recognize exceptional qualifications and mission impact; 
excellence and innovation in the performance of cybersecurity work; and 
continual learning to adapt to evolving cybersecurity risks and 
cybersecurity threats. See Sec.  158.601. As discussed previously in 
III.B of this document, main factors contributing to DHS's challenges 
recruiting and retaining cybersecurity talent are the lack of focus of 
existing Federal talent management practices on individuals and their 
skills, as well as fierce competition for those individuals and their 
skills. This compensation strategy goal aligns to the DHS-CS core 
values of expertise, innovation, and adaptability, described in Sec.  
158.305, and focuses the compensation system on individuals' 
qualifications and competing for those qualifications. The DHS-CS best 
fulfills its purpose of enhancing the cybersecurity of the Nation when 
DHS-CS employees are focused on: Enhancing qualifications and impacting 
the DHS cybersecurity mission; producing quality work products and 
developing new methods to perform cybersecurity work; and continually 
learning to counter emerging or novel risks and threats. Compensating 
employees to support and foster such outcomes helps to ensure the DHS-
CS fulfills its purpose and ensure that compensation under CTMS 
reinforces the core values of the DHS-CS.
    The third goal under the CTMS compensation strategy is to 
acknowledge the unpredictable nature of cybersecurity work and the 
expectation that all DHS-CS employees occasionally work unusual hours 
and extended hours, as needed, to execute the DHS cybersecurity 
mission, especially in response to exigent circumstances and 
emergencies. See Sec.  158.601. As discussed previously in III.B of 
this document, cybersecurity work is knowledge work that requires 
individuals to apply their skills to solve problems and achieve 
outcomes, often in unpredictable ways. Toward this compensation 
strategy goal, DHS-CS employees are salaried and are not considered 
hourly employees. Accordingly, under the compensation system, each DHS-
CS employee receives a salary. Such a salary accounts for the 
unpredictable nature of cybersecurity work and the expectation that 
DHS-CS employees occasionally work unusual and extended hours, and DHS-
CS employees are expected to successfully and proficiently perform 
cybersecurity work in exchange for the compensation provided in their 
salaries and are not entitled to more compensation for occasionally 
working unusual and extended hours in order to perform that work. Under 
CTMS, Title 5 premium pay provisions, overtime pay provisions of the 
FLSA, and most Title 5 compensatory time-off provisions do not apply. 
See Sec.  158.605. Instead, CTMS utilizes the CTMS salary system and 
types of additional compensation intended to ensure DHS-CS employees 
are compensated appropriately for their qualifications and impact on 
the DHS cybersecurity mission. Under the CTMS, DHS monitors hours 
worked by DHS-CS employees using the CTMS work scheduling system 
described in Sec.  158.705, and hours worked is important for 
administering salary and is a factor in providing some types of 
additional compensation. DHS can address employees' mission impact 
through recognition payments under Sec.  158.632, and DHS can address 
special working conditions, including circumstances that exceed the 
expectation of occasional unusual and extended hours, under the CTMS 
special working conditions payment program described in Sec.  158.642.
    The fourth goal under the CTMS compensation strategy is to reflect 
an understanding of the cybersecurity talent market, including leading 
compensation practices and trends and current work expectations and 
arrangements, an understanding of the concepts of internal and external 
equity, and an understanding of the concepts of total compensation and 
total rewards. See Sec.  158.601. As discussed previously in III.B of 
this document, there is a specific, competitive talent market for 
cybersecurity that comprises cybersecurity employers, including Federal 
agencies and private sector employers, and cybersecurity talent, which 
is individuals with cybersecurity expertise. In a field as dynamic as 
cybersecurity, DHS cannot establish a static approach to compensation 
and assume it will remain competitive enough over time to recruit and 
retain individuals with the qualifications necessary to execute the DHS 
cybersecurity mission. DHS must maintain an understanding of 
compensation in the cybersecurity talent market, and in designing and 
adjusting aspects of CTMS compensation, DHS must attempt to make like 
comparisons between the total compensation packages offered by 
employers in the cybersecurity talent market and DHS-CS employees' 
salaries and additional compensation, including the complete set of 
traditional Federal employee benefits. DHS must also ensure its 
approach to compensation remains informed by changes in how individuals 
might expect and prefer to perform cybersecurity work, as well as work 
opportunities commonly available at employers in the cybersecurity 
talent market. Therefore, DHS may need to consider how it offers work 
arrangements, such as part-time work schedules and project-based and 
remote work, and DHS may need to customize CTMS compensation and 
compensation administration to such arrangements.
    DHS also establishes and administers the compensation system based 
on information from strategic talent planning, generally recognized 
compensation principles and practices, and strategic talent priorities. 
Sec.  158.602. The CTMS compensation strategy, together with the talent 
market analysis from strategic talent planning, ensures that the 
compensation system provides a market-sensitive approach to 
compensation, enabling DHS to better compete for top cybersecurity 
talent. The generally recognized principles and practices are the same 
principles and practices, discussed previously, that DHS uses for 
conducting talent market analysis. Using these principles and practices 
for the compensation system ensures the design and administration of 
CTMS compensation addresses DHS organizational goals and complies with 
legal requirements, including those prohibiting discrimination in 
compensation.
    Compensating DHS-CS employees using a new market-sensitive 
compensation system guided by a compensation strategy intended to keep 
DHS competitive when recruiting and retaining cybersecurity talent 
represents a shift from existing Federal compensation practices for 
other Federal civil service positions. As discussed previously in 
III.A.3 of this document, the authority in 6 U.S.C. 658 to create a new 
compensation system is exempt from any other provision of law relating 
to compensation of employees, as well as from other provisions of law 
relating to classification. As such, Sec.  158.605 lists existing laws 
relating to compensation that do not apply under CTMS, to the DHS-CS, 
or to talent management under CTMS. The laws listed in Sec.  158.605 
include provisions in 5 U.S.C Chapter 53 establishing and governing 
other pay systems; premium pay provisions in 5 U.S.C. Chapter 55 and 
the minimum wage and overtime pay provisions of the FLSA; provisions

[[Page 47869]]

in Title 5 regarding monetary awards, incentives, and certain 
differentials; the limitation on annual aggregate compensation in 5 
U.S.C. 5307; and provisions in 5 U.S.C. Chapter 61 governing work 
schedules.
2. DHS-CS Employee Compensation
    Compensation for DHS-CS employees is salary and additional 
compensation. See Sec.  158.603. As defined in Sec.  158.104, salary 
means an annual rate of pay under CTMS. Compensation for DHS-CS 
advisory appointees also is salary and additional compensation under 
CTMS, subject to additional requirements and restrictions. Subpart J, 
discussed subsequently, addresses compensation for DHS-CS advisory 
appointees.
    A DHS-CS employee receives a salary under the CTMS salary system. 
See Sec.  158.603. A DHS-CS employee providing uncompensated service, 
however, does not receive a salary. A DHS-CS employee's salary may 
include a local cybersecurity talent market supplement, which, as 
discussed subsequently, is similar to locality-based comparability 
payments under Title 5.
    In addition to salary, DHS-CS employees, except those providing 
uncompensated service, may receive additional compensation. As defined 
in Sec.  158.104, additional compensation is several types of 
compensation described in Sec.  158.603(c). CTMS additional 
compensation includes: CTMS recognition, such as recognition payments; 
other special payments under CTMS; and other compensation provided in 
accordance with relevant provisions of laws, including leave and 
benefits. The types of additional compensation are set out in separate 
sections in subpart F.
    CTMS additional compensation implements the discretionary 
additional compensation authority in 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(3)(a). As 
previously discussed in III.A.3 of this document, DHS interprets this 
additional compensation authority as requiring DHS to base any 
discretionary CTMS additional compensation on Title 5 provisions 
regarding types of additional compensation, and DHS may combine and 
streamline such provisions as long as it is clear which specific Title 
5 provisions serve as the base or foundation for CTMS additional 
compensation. As discussed previously in III.B of this document, the 
current inability to quickly construct and nimbly adjust competitive 
total compensation packages is a main factor in DHS's challenges 
recruiting and retaining cybersecurity talent. Therefore, DHS is 
combining and streamlining several provisions of Title 5 to establish 
types of additional compensation specific to the new talent management 
system, as well as providing traditional Federal employee benefits, 
such as retirement, health benefits, and insurance programs.
    For CTMS additional compensation, DHS is creating a new toolset 
based on Title 5 authorities for additional compensation. The CTMS 
toolset provides a cohesive set of tools tailored to the mission-
driven, person-focused, market-sensitive design of CTMS.
    The new toolset has three categories: CTMS recognition, other 
special pay under CTMS, and other CTMS compensation provided in 
accordance with relevant provisions of other laws. CTMS recognition, 
described in Sec. Sec.  158.630-158.634, comprises three types of 
additional compensation, which are recognition payments, recognition 
time-off, and honorary recognition. CTMS recognition is based on Title 
5 authorities for cash awards and incentives, performance-based awards, 
time-off awards, and honorary awards.
    The category of other special pay under CTMS comprises four types 
of additional compensation: CTMS professional development and training, 
described in Sec.  158.640, based on Title 5 authorities for training 
and professional development; CTMS student loan repayments, described 
in Sec.  158.641, based on Title 5 authorities for student loan 
repayments; CTMS special working conditions payments, described in 
Sec.  158.642, based on Title 5 authorities for certain payments; and 
CTMS allowances in nonforeign areas, described in Sec.  158.643, as 
mandated in 6 U.S.C 658(b)(3)(B).
    The category of other CTMS compensation provided in accordance with 
relevant provisions of other laws includes other traditional types of 
additional compensation authorized in Title 5, such as holidays, leave, 
and benefits, described in Sec. Sec.  158.650-158.655, that DHS is 
authorizing under 6 U.S.C. 658.
    DHS provides additional compensation in alignment with the CTMS 
compensation strategy and under the separate sections in subpart E that 
govern each type of additional compensation. Those separate sections, 
each discussed subsequently, set out the requirements and eligibility 
for each type of additional compensation, as well as the provisions of 
Title 5 on which each type of CTMS additional compensation is based.
    A DHS-CS employee, except one providing uncompensated service, may 
receive any type of additional compensation in combination with any 
other type of additional compensation, subject to the requirements and 
eligibility criteria in the separate sections governing each type of 
additional compensation and the CTMS aggregate compensation limit, 
discussed subsequently.
3. CTMS Salary System
    The CTMS compensation system includes a salary system, which 
comprises at least one salary structure, a process for providing local 
cybersecurity talent market supplements, and a framework for 
administering salary under CTMS. See Sec.  158.610. DHS establishes and 
administers the CTMS salary system with the goals of maintaining 
sufficiently competitive salaries for DHS-CS employees for recruitment 
and retention purposes and equitable salaries among DHS-CS employees. 
These goals align with the compensation strategy in Sec.  158.601 and 
with the talent management principles of merit and fairness in Sec.  
158.303. With the salary system, DHS addresses external equity between 
the DHS-CS and the cybersecurity talent market so that DHS can compete 
for cybersecurity talent, and DHS does so through the CTMS compensation 
strategy that ensures consideration of the cybersecurity talent market. 
With the salary system, DHS also addresses internal equity within the 
DHS-CS through the work valuation system. Internal equity for salaries 
among DHS-CS employees is one outcome of the work and career structures 
established under the work valuation system; DHS aims to maintain 
equitable salaries for DHS-CS employees in the same work level and with 
similar qualifications and mission impact.
    In addition to the goals of external and internal equity, DHS also 
establishes and operates the salary system within the boundaries 
provided by the CTMS salary range.
(a) CTMS Salary Range
    The CTMS salary range comprises a standard range, which has an 
upper limit of the Vice President's salary ($255,800 in 2021), and an 
extended range for use in limited circumstances, which has an upper 
limit of 150 percent of EX-I ($332,100 in 2021). See Sec.  158.613.
    The salary range implements the basic pay authority in 6 U.S.C. 
658(b)(2)(a) regarding rates of pay. As discussed previously in III.A.3 
of this document, DHS interprets this basic pay authority to mean that 
the boundaries of the new

[[Page 47870]]

salary system, as provided by the nine rate ranges for the eleven types 
of comparable positions in DOD, may be from no minimum to 150 percent 
of EX-I or no maximum. As discussed previously in II.B of this 
document, the competitiveness of compensation, especially salary, is a 
main factor contributing to DHS's challenges recruiting and retaining 
cybersecurity talent. Therefore, the Department is using the highest 
maximum rates for the upper boundary for the new salary system
    DHS is setting the upper boundary for the salary system at the Vice 
President's salary ($255,800 in 2021), with an additional upper 
boundary of 150 percent of EX-I. As discussed previously in III.A.3 of 
this document, the rate range for one comparable position in DOD \138\ 
does not provide a maximum rate and DHS could apply this to mean that 
there is no upper boundary for the CTMS salary system. Instead, to 
ensure some certainty in establishing the range for the salary system 
and assist in standardizing and controlling employee costs, DHS is 
applying a specific maximum rate as the upper boundary for the CTMS 
salary range. The highest maximum rate provided for a comparable 
position in DOD is 150 percent of EX-I; \139\ however, to provide 
consistency across the CTMS compensation system, DHS is applying the 
maximum rate of the Vice President's salary \140\ as the standard 
boundary for the CTMS salary range. Applying the Vice President's 
salary as the standard boundary provides one limit amount that applies 
across CTMS compensation: The Vice President's salary is also the 
highest CTMS aggregate compensation limit, which restricts some types 
of additional compensation, as discussed subsequently. Additionally, 
because types of CTMS additional compensation, such as CTMS recognition 
payments, are subject to the aggregate compensation cap, any DHS-CS 
employee receiving a salary higher than the Vice President's salary, 
could not receive such additional compensation. DHS uses the higher 
salary limit of 150 percent of EX-I or the extended range, but only for 
only limited circumstances.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \138\ DOD pilot cybersecurity professional positions do not have 
a maximum rate. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal year 
2017, Public Law 15-91, Sec. 1110(f), (Dec. 2017).
    \139\ Provided for DOD STRL positions in 10 U.S.C. 2358c(d).
    \140\ Provided for IC HQE positions under 50 U.S.C. 
3024(f)(3)(A)(iii) and ICD 623, Intelligence Community Directive 
Number 623, Appointment of Highly Qualified Experts (Oct. 16, 2008), 
4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because the CTMS salary range implements the boundaries for the 
CTMS salary system provided by rate ranges for comparable positions in 
DOD, if the rate ranges for comparable positions in DOD change, DHS 
adjusts the CTMS salary range as necessary.
    The standard range applies unless the Secretary or designee invokes 
the extended range for specific DHS-CS employees serving in renewable 
appointments. See Sec.  158.613. The extended range encompasses all 
salary amounts above the standard range's upper limit of the Vice 
President's salary ($255,800 in 2021) and up to 150 percent of EX-I 
($332,100 in 2021). Because the extended range contains such high 
salary amounts, DHS is limiting its use to ensure DHS only relies on 
these salary amounts as necessary and in a way that incorporates a 
time-limit to ensure the need for such salaries is reassessed. Because 
a renewable appointment is a time-limited appointment to a qualified 
position that may be renewed, requiring that any DHS-CS employee 
receiving a salary in the extended range must be in a renewable 
appointment ensures that the use of the extended range is similarly 
time-limited, but also similarly renewable.
    To invoke the extended range for specific DHS-CS employees, the 
Secretary must determine based on the CTMS compensation strategy, that 
the employee's qualifications, the employee's mission impact, and 
mission-related requirements warrant adjusting the employee's salary 
beyond the standard range. See Sec.  158.613. Also, the Secretary or 
designee must approve a salary in the extended range for each such DHS-
CS employee by name. To receive a salary in the extended range, the 
employee must either already be in a renewable appointment, or the 
employee must accept a renewable appointment. While any DHS-CS employee 
is receiving a salary in an amount in the extended range, DHS may not 
change that employee's appointment to a continuing appointment. To 
invoke the extended range for new DHS-CS employees, the Secretary or 
designee must make a similar determination for that individual and 
approve the appointment of the individual by name. See Sec.  158.513. 
That individual must be appointed to a renewable appointment only and 
while that individual is receiving a salary in an amount in the 
extended range, DHS may not change that individual's appointment to a 
continuing appointment at any time.
(b) CTMS Salary Structure
    DHS provides salaries to DHS-CS employees under a CTMS salary 
structure. DHS establishes and administers at least one CTMS salary 
structure based on the compensation strategy and the same information, 
principles and practices, and priorities on which the CTMS compensation 
system is based. See Sec.  158.611.
    A salary structure is bounded by the CTMS salary range and includes 
subranges. See Sec.  158.611. The subranges are associated with work 
levels, which are one of the work and career structures established by 
the work valuation system. Each subrange is associated with at least 
one work level. For example, one salary subrange might be associated 
with a work level for entry-level employees in the DHS-CS, but another 
subrange might be associated with a work level for certain senior 
expert employees and executive employees in the DHS-CS.
    A salary structure also incorporates CTMS salary limitations and 
may incorporate other salary and cost control strategies. See Sec.  
158.614. CTMS salary limitations set the maximum salary for the 
subranges. Other salary and cost control strategies, such as control 
points, assist with standardization and prediction of employee costs.
    The CTMS salary limitations implement the basic pay authority in 6 
U.S.C. 658(b)(2)(a) regarding limitations on maximum rates of pay. As 
discussed previously in III.A.3 of this document, DHS interprets this 
basic pay authority to mean that the CTMS salary system is subject to 
the same salary caps applicable to the eleven types of comparable 
positions in DOD. Also as discussed previously in III.A.3, the 
applicable salary caps are six caps ranging from GS-15, step 10 to 150 
percent of EX-I, and DHS has discretion for how to apply those six caps 
to the salary system. The highest salary cap, 150 percent of EX-I, is 
also the upper boundary for the extended range, and as such is the cap 
for the entire CTMS salary system. DHS is applying the five remaining 
salary caps as CTMS salary limitations for the subranges. The CTMS 
salary limitations are: GS-15, step 10 (excluding locality pay or any 
other additional pay), EX-IV, EX-II, EX-I, and the Vice President's 
salary. See Sec.  158.614. DHS incorporates the CTMS salary limitations 
into a salary structure by assigning the limitations, in ascending 
order, to the subranges of the salary structure. The result is that 
each subrange receives a salary limitation that is greater than or 
equal to the salary maximum of that subrange. See

[[Page 47871]]

Sec.  158.611. If the salary caps for comparable positions in DOD 
change in the future, DHS will adjust the CTMS salary limitations as 
necessary. DHS may also establish other limitations on maximum rates of 
salary, in addition to these CTMS salary limitations. See Sec.  
158.514.
    DHS may adjust a CTMS salary structure based on the compensation 
strategy and the same information, principles and practices, and 
priorities with which DHS establishes and administers the salary 
structure. See Sec.  158.611. The purpose of considering adjustments to 
a salary structure, including its subranges, is to determine whether 
the salaries provided under that salary structure remain sufficiently 
competitive in alignment with the compensation strategy and the goals 
of the salary system. DHS might find, for example, that one salary 
subrange is lagging behind the cybersecurity talent market based on a 
trend of rising salaries for specific qualifications, and therefore, 
DHS might make adjustments to that subrange, such as increasing the 
salary minimum for that subrange. DHS may review and adjust a CTMS 
salary structure annually, and may also do so sooner than annually as 
the Secretary or designee determines necessary.
(c) CTMS Local Cybersecurity Talent Market Supplement
    As part of the CTMS salary system, DHS is establishing a process 
for providing a local cybersecurity talent market supplement (LCTMS). 
See Sec.  158.612. DHS may provide a LCTMS to a DHS-CS employee in a 
specific geographic location to ensure the employee receives a 
sufficiently competitive salary, which is the purpose of a LCTMS and a 
goal of the compensation strategy and salary system. Much like 
locality-based comparability payments under 5 U.S.C. 5304, a LCTMS is 
intended to address geographic compensation disparities and a LCTMS 
does so through local cybersecurity talent market supplement 
percentages.
    A local cybersecurity talent market is the cybersecurity talent 
market in a geographic area that DHS defines based on analysis of the 
cybersecurity talent market, and that may incorporate the definitions 
of localities under 5 U.S.C. 5304. See Sec.  158.612. For defining such 
geographic areas, DHS may rely on localities established or modified 
under 5 U.S.C. 5304 but may need to adjust the boundaries of such 
localities to match specific cybersecurity talent markets. DHS may also 
define geographic areas for local cybersecurity talent markets separate 
from the localities covered by 5 U.S.C. 5304, especially if such 
localities do not align to the cybersecurity talent markets in which 
DHS competes for cybersecurity talent.
    A local cybersecurity talent market supplement percentage is a 
percentage DHS assigns to a local cybersecurity talent market to 
increase the amount of salaries for DHS-CS employees provided under a 
salary structure in that local cybersecurity talent market. See Sec.  
158.612. This percentage increases the amount of a salary to account 
for the difference between the salary as determined under a CTMS salary 
structure and what DHS determines to be a sufficiently competitive 
salary for that local cybersecurity talent market.
    DHS determines whether a LCTMS is necessary in a local 
cybersecurity talent market based on the compensation strategy and the 
same information, principles and practices, and priorities on which the 
CTMS compensation system is based and that DHS uses to establish and 
adjust a CTMS salary structure. See Sec.  158.612. Based on that 
strategy and same information, principles and practices, and 
priorities, DHS may establish and periodically adjust any local 
cybersecurity talent markets and local cybersecurity talent market 
supplement percentages. An adjustment to a local cybersecurity talent 
market supplement percentage may include termination when DHS 
determines it is no longer necessary for the purpose of a LCTMS.
    DHS determines eligibility for a LCTMS under Sec.  158.612 and CTMS 
policy implementing that section. Under Sec.  158.612, a DHS-CS 
employee is eligible for a LCTMS if the employee's official worksite is 
located in a local cybersecurity talent market with an assigned local 
cybersecurity talent market supplement percentage for the salary 
structure under which the employee's salary is provided. Thus, a DHS-CS 
employee's official worksite location and the salary structure for the 
employee's salary are both factors in eligibility for a LTCMS. DHS may 
have more than one salary structure, but a LCTMS may not be required 
for all salary structures to ensure sufficiently competitive salaries. 
Any LCTMS a DHS-CS employee receives terminates when the employee's 
official worksite is no longer in a local cybersecurity talent market 
with an assigned local cybersecurity talent market supplement 
percentage, or the salary structure under which the employee's salary 
is provided no longer has an assigned local cybersecurity labor market 
supplement, or both.
    A LCTMS is limited by applicable CTMS salary limitations. A DHS-CS 
employee may not receive any portion of a LCTMS that would cause that 
employee's salary to exceed applicable CTMS salary limitations, but may 
receive the portion of the LCTMS up to the applicable limitations. A 
DHS-CS employee also cannot receive a LCTMS that would cause the 
employee's salary to be in the CTMS extended range unless the Secretary 
invokes the extended range for that employee.
    Any LCTMS a DHS-CS employee receives is part of the employee's 
salary and as such a LCTMS is basic pay for purposes under Title 5, 
such as civil service retirement. A LCTMS, however, is not basic pay 
for purposes of determining pay under Title 5 provisions addressing a 
reduction in pay as an adverse action, and a reduction in salary for a 
DHS-CS employee because of a change in any LCTMS, including a change in 
amount or termination of a LCTMS, for that employee is not an adverse 
action under 5 U.S.C. 7512. See Sec. Sec.  158.612. Decisions regarding 
such supplements are based on geographic location and calculations for 
providing such a supplement. This is similar to changes in locality-
based comparability payments under Title 5 because under Title 5 a 
change in an employee's official worksite to a different locality pay 
area may serve to reduce that employee's basic pay, but is not a 
reduction in basic pay for the purposes of 5 U.S.C. 7512 because 
locality-based comparability payments are not considered basic pay for 
those purposes.\141\
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    \141\ 5 CFR 531.610.
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(d) CTMS Salary Administration
    The CTMS salary system includes a framework for salary 
administration that addresses setting salaries and adjusting salaries 
under CTMS, and administering CTMS salaries under relevant provisions 
of other laws. See Sec. Sec.  158.620-158.622. Although the CTMS salary 
system is exempt from other laws relating to compensation of employees, 
under the authority and exemptions in 6 U.S.C. 658, DHS is setting up a 
new compensation system and salary system, and the new systems must 
integrate with existing pay administration procedures and 
infrastructure, such as information technology support systems, used by 
Federal agencies to process and ensure employees receive their earned 
compensation.
    DHS sets the salary for an individual accepting an appointment to a 
qualified position within a subrange of a CTMS salary structure as part 
of selection and appointment of the individual. DHS sets

[[Page 47872]]

an individual's initial salary based on: The individual's CTMS 
qualifications; applicable work and career structures, including the 
individual's initial work level; the individual's anticipated mission 
impact; mission-related requirements; and strategic talent priorities 
set by CTMS leadership. See Sec.  158.620.
    As discussed previously, CTMS qualifications are the core of CTMS, 
and setting salary based on qualifications ensures a focus on the value 
of those qualifications to DHS. Work and career structures group and 
value qualifications, and work level is one such grouping for purposes 
of similar treatment in talent management and which addresses internal 
equity among DHS-CS employees' salaries. DHS determines an individual's 
CTMS qualifications under the CTMS assessment program and determines 
applicable work and career structures as part of selection and 
appointment of the individual.
    A goal of the DHS-CS is the most effective execution of the DHS 
cybersecurity mission, and therefore a DHS-CS employee's mission impact 
is an important part of the employee's value or worth to DHS. As such 
the employee's anticipated mission impact is a factor in setting 
initial salary. DHS determines individuals' anticipated mission impact 
using information from the application and assessment processes.
    Mission-related requirements are relevant for addressing emerging 
or urgent mission circumstances, and for setting salaries with 
information about mission-related requirements, such as a need for 
talent that understands a novel technology related to an urgent 
cybersecurity threat. Mission-related requirements, as defined in Sec.  
158.104, are characteristics of an individual's expertise or 
characteristics of cybersecurity work, or both, including highly-
specialized expertise and cybersecurity talent market-related 
information, that are associated with successful execution of the DHS 
cybersecurity mission, and that are determined by officials with 
appropriate decision-making authority. Strategic talent priorities are 
part of the design and administration of CTMS and the CTMS compensation 
system, and setting initial salaries based on such priorities ensures 
salaries also reflect DHS and CTMS leadership priorities and goals for 
the DHS-CS.
    DHS may set the salary for an incoming DHS-CS employee without 
regard to any prior salaries of the individual, including any basic pay 
while serving in a previous Federal appointment and any previous salary 
as a DHS-CS employee for a returning, former DHS-CS employee. See Sec.  
158.620. This emphasizes that DHS uses the CTMS compensation system to 
set DHS-CS employee salaries based on individuals' value or worth in 
relationship to the DHS cybersecurity mission. This also serves to 
reduce reliance on salary history information that may reflect 
systematic bias and historical salary discrimination.
    Under CTMS, DHS adjusts a DHS-CS employee's salary by providing a 
LCTMS or a recognition adjustment, or both. See Sec.  158.621. A 
recognition adjustment is an adjustment to a DHS-CS employee's salary 
and is based primarily on the employee's mission impact. See Sec. Sec.  
158.630 and 158.631. DHS determines the mission impact of a DHS-CS 
employee, individually or as part of group of DHS-CS employees or both, 
using mission impact reviews, which are part of the CTMS performance 
management program described in Sec.  158.802 and discussed 
subsequently. In providing a recognition adjustment, DHS may also 
consider mission-related requirements and strategic talent priorities 
for the same reasons DHS considers them for setting salaries. A 
recognition adjustment does not alter any LCTMS for that employee. 
While a LCTMS is part of a receiving DHS-CS employee's salary, a 
recognition adjustment does not alter the percentage of a LCTMS.
    A DHS-CS employee may not receive a recognition adjustment that 
would cause the employee's salary to exceed the CTMS salary range or a 
CTMS salary limitation applicable to the subrange for that employee's 
salary. See Sec.  158.631. A DHS-CS employee may not receive a 
recognition adjustment that would cause the employee's salary to be in 
the extended range, unless the Secretary or designee invokes the 
extended range for that employee, as discussed previously.
    DHS does not provide DHS-CS employees with any automatic salary 
increases or any salary increases based on length of service in the 
DHS-CS or service in any position outside the DHS-CS. CTMS is not a 
longevity-based approach to talent management, and career progression 
in the DHS-CS is not based on length of service in the DHS-CS or the 
Federal government. Providing a recognition adjustment or a LCTMS is 
the only means for adjusting a DHS-CS employee's salary.
    If, however, DHS adjusts a salary structure that results in an 
increase to the salary minimum for one or more subranges of the salary 
structure, DHS adjusts the salary for any affected DHS-CS employee. See 
158.621. For a DHS-CS employee receiving a salary in an affected 
subrange at the affected salary minimum, DHS adjusts the employee's 
salary to reflect the adjustment to the salary structure and the new 
salary minimum for the affected subrange. Such a salary adjustment is 
not considered a recognition adjustment.
    Under CTMS, a recognition adjustment is not a promotion for any 
purpose under Title 5. See Sec.  158.631. Salary progression resulting 
from recognition adjustments is only one part of a DHS-CS employee's 
career progression. Career progression in the DHS-CS is based on both 
enhancement of CTMS qualifications and salary progression. See Sec.  
158.803. Enhancement of CTMS qualifications is one component of career 
progression in the DHS-CS in alignment with the DHS core values of 
expertise, innovation, and adaptability and in alignment with the 
compensation strategy. DHS expects DHS-CS employees to strive to 
enhance individual expertise through continual learning and anticipate 
and adapt to emergent and future cybersecurity risks. Additionally, as 
part of the compensation strategy, DHS values, encourages, and 
recognizes exceptional qualifications and mission impact, and DHS 
adjusts DHS-CS employees' salaries in recognition of their mission 
impact.
    In order to integrate CTMS salary administration with existing pay 
administration procedures and infrastructure used by Federal agencies, 
DHS administers salaries of DHS-CS employees in accordance with 
relevant provisions of other laws governing pay administration for 
Federal civil service employees. DHS administers salaries under CTMS in 
accordance with the 5 CFR part 550 generally and U.S. Code sections 
enumerated in Sec.  158.622. Because 5 CFR part 550 addresses 
administration of other types of compensation and not just salary 
administration, Sec.  158.622 also lists the provisions of 5 CFR part 
550 that do not apply to CTMS. Those provisions of 5 CFR part 550 
address types of premium pay \142\ and compensatory time-off for 
travel, which as discussed previously, do not apply under CTMS.
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    \142\ Subpart A of 5 CFR part 550 addresses types of premium pay 
and administration of such pay, including a biweekly maximum earning 
limitation, known as a biweekly pay cap. Under Sec.  158.622, and 
Sec.  158.605, Subpart A, including application of the biweekly pay 
cap, does not apply to CTMS.
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    DHS also administers DHS-CS employee salaries based on 
consideration of each employee's work schedule under the CTMS work 
scheduling system, described in Sec.  158.705 and discussed 
subsequently,

[[Page 47873]]

and may convert a DHS-CS employee's salary into an hourly rate, 
biweekly rate, or other rate as necessary to ensure accurate operation 
of existing pay administration procedures and infrastructure. See Sec.  
158.622. In converting salaries to an hourly, biweekly, or other rate, 
DHS may need to consider the hours worked and any leave taken by an 
employee to ensure proper payment of salary.
4. CTMS Recognition
    The CTMS compensation system comprises the CTMS salary system and 
CTMS additional compensation, and CTMS recognition is a main aspect of 
both. With CTMS recognition, DHS recognizes and rewards DHS-CS 
employees, in alignment with the CTMS compensation strategy and CTMS 
performance management program, based primarily on mission impact.
    CTMS recognition includes four types of recognition: Recognition 
adjustments, recognition payments, recognition time-off, and honorary 
recognition. See Sec. Sec.  158.631-158.634. As discussed previously, 
DHS adjusts DHS-CS employees' salaries through recognition adjustments. 
The other three types of CTMS recognition--payments, time-off, and 
honorary--are additional compensation.
    Like recognition adjustments, DHS provides recognition payments, 
recognition time-off, and honorary recognition, based primarily on a 
DHS-CS employee's mission impact. See Sec. Sec.  158.630 and 158.632-
158.634. DHS determines the mission impact of a DHS-CS employee, 
individually or as part of group of DHS-CS employees or both, using 
mission impact reviews, which are part of the CTMS performance 
management program described in Sec.  158.802 and discussed 
subsequently. In providing recognition payments, recognition time-off, 
and honorary recognition, DHS may also consider mission-related 
requirements and strategic talent priorities for the same reasons DHS 
may consider these in providing a recognition adjustment and for 
setting initial salaries.
    DHS may also use CTMS recognition, in the form of recognition 
payments and recognition time-off, as part of recruiting new DHS-CS 
employees. DHS may need to offer a recognition payment as a signing 
bonus to ensure that an individual's compensation package is 
sufficiently competitive and to incentivize the individual to serve in 
the DHS-CS. DHS provides recognition to an incoming DHS-CS employee 
based on the incoming employee's CTMS qualifications, the incoming 
employee's anticipated mission impact, mission-related requirements, 
and strategic talent priorities. See Sec.  158.630. DHS bases 
recognition for an incoming DHS-CS employee on these for the same 
reasons DHS considers them for setting initial salaries.
    DHS determines eligibility for CTMS recognition under Sec. Sec.  
158.630-158.634 and CTMS policy. As stated in Sec.  158.630, a DHS-CS 
employee is ineligible to receive CTMS recognition if DHS determines 
the employee's performance is unacceptable, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 
4301(3) or the employee receives an unacceptable rating of record under 
CTMS performance management, or DHS determines the employee has engaged 
in misconduct. A DHS-CS employee should only be recognized if the 
employee's performance is acceptable. Similarly, a DHS-CS employee 
should not be recognized if engaging in misconduct. For these same 
reasons, DHS may defer providing recognition if DHS is in the process 
of determining whether a DHS-CS employee's performance is unacceptable 
or whether the employee has engaged in misconduct. See Sec.  158.630. 
CTMS policy will address other eligibility criteria for CTMS 
recognition.
    In addition to eligibility criteria, CTMS policy will also address 
requirements for documenting the reason and basis for providing CTMS 
recognition, appropriate levels of review and approval, and any 
limitations on recognitions, among other matters necessary for 
administering CTMS recognition.
    CTMS recognition payments, recognition time-off, and honorary 
recognition are based on Title 5 authorities. As discussed previously 
in III.A.3 of this document, under the Sec.  658 additional 
compensation authority DHS may combine and streamline provisions of 
Title 5 regarding types of additional compensation, as long as it is 
clear on which specific Title 5 provisions CTMS additional compensation 
is based. Sections 158.632 through 158.634 list the Title 5 authorities 
on which CTMS recognition payments, recognition time-off, and honorary 
recognition are based. Each of these types of recognition is discussed 
subsequently.
(a) CTMS Recognition Payments
    A CTMS recognition payment is a lump-sum payment, an installment 
payment, or recurring payments of up to a percentage of the receiving 
DHS-CS employee's salary: Up to 20 percent, or up to 50 percent with 
approval of the Secretary or designee. See Sec.  158.632. DHS may offer 
a recognition payment to an incoming DHS-CS employee as part of an 
offer for employment in the DHS-CS. A recognition payment for an 
incoming DHS-CS employee is up to 20 percent of the incoming employee's 
initial salary and is provided upon appointment. See Sec.  158.632.
    CTMS recognition payments are based on Title 5 authorities 
providing seven types of cash awards and incentives: 5 U.S.C. 4502 
providing cash awards for a suggestion, invention, superior 
accomplishment or other meritorious effort,\143\ 5 U.S.C. 4503 
providing agency awards for special acts,\144\ 5 U.S.C. 4505a and 5384 
providing performance-based cash awards,\145\ 5 U.S.C. 4507 and 4507a 
providing presidential rank awards,\146\ and 5 U.S.C. 5753 and 5754 
providing recruitment incentives, relocation incentives, and 
recruitment incentives.\147\ These Title 5 authorities

[[Page 47874]]

provide cash awards and incentives in recognition of employee efforts 
and performance, and can help with employee recruitment and retention. 
CTMS recognition payments serve the same purposes, but under the 
overall approach to talent management and compensation under CTMS. DHS 
uses recognition payments to recognize and reward DHS-CS employees, 
especially for their mission impact. The Title 5 authorities on which 
CTMS recognition is based provide some of the existing Federal 
compensation tools, which as discussed previously in III.B of this 
document, are cumbersome to use, ineffective for constructing market-
sensitive compensation packages, and are not intended to form a 
cohesive toolset. CTMS recognition payments combines and streamlines 
these existing tools to align with the CTMS design and to allow for 
greater flexibility and agility in providing competitive total 
compensation packages.
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    \143\ Under 5 U.S.C. 4502, an agency may provide a cash award up 
to $10,000 or a cash award up to $25,000 with OPM approval for a 
suggestion, invention, superior accomplishment, or other meritorious 
effort.
    \144\ Under 5 U.S.C. 4503, an agency may pay a cash award to an 
employee who provides a suggestion, invention, superior 
accomplishment, or other personal effort that contributes to the 
efficiency, economy, or other improvement of Government operations 
or achieves a significant reduction in paperwork, or performs a 
special act or service in the public interest in connection with or 
related to the employee's official employment.
    \145\ Under 5 U.S.C. 4505a, an employee whose most recent 
performance rating was at the fully successful level or higher may 
be paid a cash award up to 10 percent of the employee's salary, or 
up to 20 percent of the employee's salary if the agency determines 
that exceptional performance by the employee justifies such an 
award. Under 5 U.S.C. 5384, employees in SES positions may receive a 
performance award for at least fully successful performance during 
the employee's most recent performance appraisal. Such performance 
awards are at least 5 percent, and up to 20 percent, of the 
recipient's annual basic pay.
    \146\ Under 5 U.S.C. 4507 and 4507a, employees in SES and SL/ST 
may receive presidential ranks of meritorious executive or 
distinguished executive or meritorious senior professional or 
distinguished senior professional, and the recipient is entitled to 
a cash award of 20 percent of the recipient's annual basic pay for 
meritorious ranks and 35 percent of the recipient's annual basic pay 
for distinguished ranks.
    \147\ Under 5 U.S.C. 5753 an agency can provide a recruitment 
incentive when a position is likely to be difficult to fill in the 
absence of such a bonus. Under 5 U.S.C. 5753 an agency can provide a 
relocation incentive when an individual is a newly appointed 
employee or is a current employee and moves to a new position in the 
same geographic area or must relocate to accept a position in a 
different geographic area. Under 5 U.S.C. 5754, an agency can 
provide a retention incentive to an employee when the unusually high 
or unique qualifications of the employee or a special need of the 
agency for the employee's services makes it essential to retain the 
employee and the agency determines that, in absence of a retention 
bonus, the employee would be likely to leave the Federal service; or 
for a different position in the Federal service. Recruitment, 
relocation, and retention incentives for an individual can be up to 
25 percent of the recipient's annual basic pay, or up to 50 percent 
of the recipient's annual basic pay with OPM approval.
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    For recognition payments, DHS is establishing a maximum amount as a 
percentage of a DHS-CS employee's salary because most of the Title 5 
authorities, on which recognition payments are based, provide a limit 
for cash payments as a percentage of annual basic pay. Performance-
based cash awards range from a minimum of 5 percent under 5 U.S.C. 5382 
to a maximum of 20 percent under 5 U.S.C 4505a and 5382. Presidential 
rank awards are either 20 percent or 35 percent, and recruitment, 
relocation, and retention incentives have no minimum but have a maximum 
of 25 percent without special approval. The maximum percentage amount 
for these Title 5 awards and incentives, ranges from 20 percent to 50 
percent, so DHS is establishing the percentage amounts for recognition 
payments as up to 20 percent without special approval, and up to 50 
percent with approval from the Secretary or the Secretary's designee. 
Also, because recognition payments have budget implications, requiring 
special approval for amounts exceeding 20 percent of a DHS-CS 
employee's salary helps to ensure proper oversight of such additional 
compensation.
    DHS requires a service agreement as part of providing a recognition 
payment for an incoming DHS-CS employee and may require a service 
agreement as part of providing a recognition payment to a current DHS-
CS employee. See Sec.  158.632. Service agreements can help ensure DHS 
gets, for a minimum amount of time, the benefit of the reasons DHS is 
providing the recognition payment.
    Also, acceptance of a recognition payment constitutes agreement for 
Federal government use of any idea, method, device, or similar that is 
the basis of the payment. See Sec.  158.632. This mirrors the 
requirement in 5 U.S.C. 4502(c) that acceptance of a Title 5 cash award 
constitutes an agreement that the use by the government of an idea, 
method, or device for which the award is made does not form the basis 
of a future claim of any nature against the government by the employee 
or the employee's heirs or estate. As necessary, DHS may provide a 
recognition payment to a former DHS-CS employee or to the legal heirs 
or estate of a DHS-CS former employee in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 4505, 
which provides for paying a Title 5 cash award to a former employee, or 
the former employee's heirs or estate.
    A recognition payment is not salary under CTMS nor basic pay for 
purposes under Title 5, see Sec.  158.632, even if paid in an amount 
that would have been salary but for an applicable salary limitation as 
incorporated in a salary structure. Under 6 U.S.C. 658, compensation is 
either salary or additional compensation, and CTMS recognition payments 
are additional compensation. In cases where a DHS-CS employee's salary 
is limited because of a CTMS salary limitation, DHS may determine that 
the employee should instead receive a recognition payment as part of an 
effort to ensure the individual's compensation is sufficiently 
competitive for the individual's expertise and mission impact. Any such 
payment, made in part to address a truncated salary, would be a 
recognition payment, not salary, and therefore, not basic pay under 
Title 5.
    For DHS-CS employees, recognition payments are in lieu of the seven 
types of Title 5 cash awards and incentives on which recognition 
payments are based. See Sec.  158.632. DHS-CS employees and incoming 
DHS-CS employees are ineligible for those seven types of cash awards 
and incentives because recognition payments replace those types of 
Title 5 awards and incentives for DHS-CS employees.
(b) CTMS Recognition Time-Off
    CTMS recognition time-off is time-off from duty without charge to 
leave or loss of compensation for use by the recipient within a 
designated timeframe. See Sec.  158.633. CTMS recognition time-off is 
based on Title 5 authorities providing time-off awards,\148\ which 
provide paid time-off in recognition of employee efforts or 
accomplishments. CTMS recognition time-off serves a similar purpose, 
but under the overall approach to talent management and compensation 
under CTMS. DHS uses recognition time-off to recognize and reward DHS-
CS employees, especially for their mission impact. CTMS recognition 
time-off is similar to Title 5 time-off but is specific to CTMS and can 
be an important part of a total compensation package for both 
recruiting and retention.
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    \148\ Under 5 U.S.C. 4503(e) and 5 CFR part 451.104, an agency 
may grant employees time off from duty, without loss of pay or 
charge to leave, as an award in recognition of superior 
accomplishment or other personal effort that contributes to the 
quality, efficiency, or economy of Government operations.
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    As part of providing a DHS-CS employee recognition time-off, DHS 
designates the timeframe for use of the time-off award. The designated 
timeframe for recognition time-off may not exceed the equivalent of 26 
biweekly pay periods, and all recognition time-off must also be 
recorded in a timekeeping system to ensure accurate operation of 
existing salary and leave administration procedures. See Sec.  158.633. 
These requirements mirror procedures for use of Title 5 time-off awards 
under 5 U.S.C. 4502(e).\149\ Twenty-six biweekly pay periods is one 
calendar year for pay and leave administration purposes for Federal 
employees.
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    \149\ See also Timekeeper Instructions on Time Off Awards, 
available at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/mrpbs/hr/pay_leave_tod/downloads/award_faq.pdf (last visited May 25, 2021).
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    Also, as part of an offer for employment in the DHS-CS, DHS may 
offer an incoming DHS-CS employee up to 40 hours of recognition time-
off for that new employee to use within the employee's first year of 
employment in the DHS-CS. See Sec.  158.633. As part of recruiting new 
DHS-CS employees, DHS may need to offer recognition time-off to ensure 
that an individual's compensation package is sufficiently competitive 
and to incentivize the individual to serve in the DHS-CS. DHS may 
require a service agreement as part of providing recognition time-off 
for an incoming DHS-CS employee.
    Recognition time-off may not be converted to a cash payment or any 
other type of time-off or leave with pay. See Sec.  158.633. This 
requirement mirrors the same requirement for Title 5 time-off awards in 
5 CFR 451.104(f) because an important feature of a time-off award is 
that providing such awards does not require additional funding or cash 
disbursement similar to a cash award.

[[Page 47875]]

    A recognition time-off award is in lieu of time-off awards under 
Title 5 on which recognition time-off is based. See Sec.  158.633. DHS-
CS employees and incoming DHS-CS employees are ineligible for those 
Title 5 time-off awards because CTMS recognition time-off replaces 
Title 5 time-off awards for DHS-CS employees.
(c) CTMS Honorary Recognition
    As part of CTMS recognition, DHS may establish one or more honorary 
recognition programs to provide honorary recognition to DHS-CS 
employees. See 158.634. CTMS honorary recognition is based on honorary 
recognition provided under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 4503,\150\ which 
describes how the head of an agency may incur necessary expense for the 
honorary recognition of an employee for certain acts and contributions. 
CTMS honorary recognition serves a similar purpose for DHS-CS 
employees, but under the overall approach to talent management and 
compensation under CTMS. DHS uses CTMS honorary recognition to 
recognize and reward DHS-CS employees, especially for their mission 
impact. CTMS honorary recognition is similar to Title 5 honorary 
recognition but is specific to CTMS.
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    \150\ Under 5 U.S.C. 4503, an agency may incur necessary expense 
for the honorary recognition of an employee who provides a 
suggestion, invention, superior accomplishment, or other personal 
effort that contributes to the efficiency, economy, or other 
improvement of Government operations or achieves a significant 
reduction in paperwork, or performs a special act or service in the 
public interest in connection with or related to the employee's 
official employment.
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    Unlike other CTMS recognition, a DHS-CS employee may be eligible to 
receive both CTMS honorary recognition and any honorary recognition 
under 5 U.S.C. 4503 and 5 CFR part 451. Some honorary recognition 
programs developed under Title 5 authority are designed to recognize 
employees hired and compensated using a variety of statutory 
authorities. Thus, all eligible DHS employees, including DHS-CS 
employees, covered by those Title 5 honorary recognition programs may 
receive recognition under such programs. As with honorary recognition 
under 5 U.S.C. 4503, DHS may incur necessary expenses for CTMS honorary 
recognition. See Sec.  158.634.
5. Other Special Payments Under CTMS
    Under the CTMS compensation system, DHS provides other types of 
additional compensation in the form of professional development and 
training, student loan repayments, payments for special working 
conditions, and allowances in nonforeign areas. Offering allowances in 
nonforeign areas is mandated by 6 U.S.C. 658 as a type of additional 
compensation. Such allowances are not specific to CTMS and are provided 
to DHS-CS employees under 5 U.S.C. 5941. The other types of additional 
compensation are also not salary under CTMS nor basic pay for purposes 
under Title 5. Under 6 U.S.C. 658, compensation is either salary or 
additional compensation, and CTMS professional development and 
training, CTMS student loan repayments, and CTMS special working 
conditions, as well as allowances in nonforeign areas, are all 
additional compensation.
    These types of CTMS additional compensation, except allowances in 
nonforeign areas, are specific to CTMS and are based on Title 5 
authorities. As discussed previously in III.A.3 of this document, under 
the Sec.  658 additional compensation authority DHS may combine and 
streamline provisions of Title 5 regarding types of additional 
compensation, as long as it is clear on which specific Title 5 
provisions CTMS additional compensation is based. Sections 158.640-
158.642 lists the Title 5 authorities on which CTMS professional 
development and training, student loan repayments, and payments for 
special working conditions are based. Each of these other special 
payments under CTMS is discussed subsequently.
(a) CTMS Professional Development and Training
    Under CTMS, DHS provides DHS-CS employees with opportunities, 
payments, and reimbursements for professional development and training. 
See Sec.  158.640. CTMS professional development and training is based 
on Title 5 provisions providing training and professional development 
opportunities, payments, and reimbursements: 5 U.S.C. 3396 providing 
sabbaticals,\151\ 5 U.S.C. 4107 providing academic degree 
training,\152\ 5 U.S.C. 4109 providing expenses of training,\153\ 5 
U.S.C. 4110 providing expenses of attendance at meetings,\154\ and 5 
U.S.C. 5757 providing payment of expenses to obtain professional 
credentials.\155\ Like these provisions of Title 5, CTMS professional 
development and training provide professional development and training 
opportunities, payments, and reimbursements for DHS-CS employees, but 
under the overall approach to talent management and compensation under 
CTMS. CTMS professional development and training is similar to the 
training and professional development opportunities, payments, and 
reimbursements under Title 5, but is specific to CTMS and tailored to 
CTMS design. This type of compensation can be an important piece of a 
total compensation package, especially for cybersecurity talent looking 
to keep their expertise current and to acquire new skills.
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    \151\ Under 5 U.S.C. 3396, an agency head may grant a career SES 
employee a sabbatical not to exceed 11 months to permit that 
employee to engage in study or uncompensated work experience that 
will contribute to the employee's development and effectiveness.
    \152\ Under 5 U.S.C. 4107, an agency may select and assign an 
employee to academic degree training and pay or reimburse the costs 
of that training.
    \153\ Under 5 U.S.C. 4109, an agency may pay an employee while 
the employee attends training and may pay or reimburse the employee 
for all or a part of the necessary expenses of training, including 
travel and per diem, moving expenses, tuition, books, and other 
fees.
    \154\ Under 5 U.S.C. 4110, an agency may pay for the expenses of 
an employee attending certain meetings.
    \155\ Under 5 U.S.C. 5757, an agency may pay the expenses of an 
employee to obtain professional credentials.
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    DHS provides CTMS professional development and training 
opportunities, payments, and reimbursements in alignment with the CTMS 
career development program described in Sec.  158.802 and discussed 
subsequently. With the career development program, DHS guides the 
career progression of DHS-CS employees, which includes enhancement of 
qualifications, and ensures development of the collective expertise of 
DHS-CS employees through continual learning. CTMS professional 
development and training is one means of enhancing qualifications and 
providing opportunities for continual learning.
    DHS also provides CTMS professional development and training in 
alignment with CTMS compensation strategy. CTMS professional 
development and training is considered part of a total compensation 
package for a DHS-CS employee, reflecting an understanding of the 
concepts of total compensation and total rewards in alignment with the 
CTMS compensation strategy. Professional development and training, even 
those opportunities not assigned a specific monetary value, can be a 
valuable part of an employment opportunity with the DHS-CS and a DHS-CS 
employee's career progression.
    CTMS policy will address eligibility criteria and requirements for 
documenting the reason and basis for providing professional development 
and training opportunities, payments, and reimbursements, among other 
matters necessary for administering CTMS professional development and 
training.

[[Page 47876]]

    In addition to CTMS professional development and training, a DHS-CS 
employee may receive training and professional development under the 
provisions of Title 5 on which CTMS professional development and 
training is based, if the employee is eligible under those provisions. 
Many programs and courses developed under Title 5 authority are 
intended for employees hired and compensated under several different 
statutory authorities. Thus, all eligible DHS employees, including DHS-
CS employees, covered by such programs and courses may participate in 
them.
(b) CTMS Student Loan Repayments
    Under CTMS and in alignment with the CTMS compensation strategy, 
DHS may provide a student loan repayment to a DHS-CS employee up to 
$16,500 per employee per calendar year and a total of $90,000 per 
employee. See Sec.  158.641. CTMS student loan repayments are based on 
5 U.S.C. 5379, which provides student loan repayments to certain 
Federal employees. CTMS student loan repayments serve the same purpose, 
but under the overall approach to talent management and compensation 
under CTMS. CTMS student loan repayments are similar to student loan 
repayments under Title 5, but are specific to CTMS and tailored to CTMS 
design.
    While DHS offers CTMS student loan repayments under the authority 
in 6 U.S.C 658, DHS provides CTMS student loan repayments in accordance 
with 5 U.S.C. 5379 and 5 CFR part 537, with some exceptions. DHS 
applies different maximum payment and cap amounts, different minimum 
service period lengths, and expanded eligibility criteria from those 
under 5 U.S.C. 5379 and 5 CFR part 537. The Title 5 student loan 
repayment program is a useful tool in recruiting and retaining 
employees, but the program must align with the approach to talent 
management under CTMS and the CTMS compensation system, which aims to 
address factors in DHS's challenges recruiting and retaining 
cybersecurity talent. As discussed previously in III.B of this 
document, the competitiveness of compensation, including total 
compensation packages, is a main factor in DHS's challenges recruiting 
and retaining cybersecurity talent. Therefore, DHS is including student 
loan repayments under CTMS as a recruitment and retention tool and is 
increasing the payment amount and cap amounts for CTMS student loan 
repayments.
    For CTMS student loan repayments, DHS is setting the maximum 
payment amounts to reflect the increased costs of higher education 
since Congress last amended the maximum rates under 5 U.S.C. 5379. 
Student loan repayments under 5 U.S.C. 5379 are capped at $10,000 per 
employee per year and $60,000 total per employee.\156\ This statutory 
authority was originally enacted in 1990 and was originally capped at 
$6,000 per employee per year and $40,000 total per employee.\157\ In 
2003, Congress increased the payment caps to $10,000 per employee per 
year and $60,000 total per employee in a stand-alone Act for the sole 
purpose of increasing the cap.\158\ In increasing the annual cap by 67 
percent \159\ and the aggregate cap by 50 percent \160\ (effective 
January 2004), Congress stated that the purpose of the 2003 cap 
increase was to ``reflect[ ] an increase in annual college tuition 
costs since the enactment of the original statute in 1991.'' \161\ 
Congress has not updated the cap amount since 2003,\162\ and Congress 
also did not provide specific data for the increase in annual college 
tuition costs in 2003.
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    \156\ 5 U.S.C. 5379(b)(2).
    \157\ Public Law 101-510, Sec. 1206(b)(1) (Nov. 1990).
    \158\ Public Law 108-123, Sec. 2 (Nov. 2003); see also, Public 
Law 108-136 Sec. 1123(a) (Nov. 2003) (providing a duplicative 
increase from $6,000 to $10,000 per year).
    \159\ $10,000 (Title 5 student loan repayment annual cap in 
2003)-$6,000 (Title 5 student loan repayment annual cap in 1990) = 
$4,000; $4,000 / $6,0000 = 66.67%.
    \160\ $60,000 (Title 5 student loan repayment aggregate cap in 
2003)-$40,000 (Title 5 student loan repayment aggregate cap in 1990) 
= $20,000; $20,000 / $40,000 = 50%.
    \161\ S. Rep. 108-109, Report Together with Additional View of 
the Committee on Governmental Affairs United States Senate to 
accompany S. 926, ``To Amend Section 5379 of Title 5, United States 
Code, to Increase the Annual and Aggregate Limits on Student Loan 
Repayments by Federal Agencies,'' (July 21, 2003), 1.
    \162\ The student loan repayment authority in 5 U.S.C. 5379 was 
last amended in 2008 to include parts of the legislative branch in 
the definition of ``agency,'' but the cap was not addressed. Public 
Law 110-437, Sec. 502 (Oct. 2008). See also Public Law 106-398, Sec. 
1122(a) (Oct. 2000) (updating definition of ``student loan'' in the 
first amendment to the student loan repayment authority since 
enactment).
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    Under Sec.  158.641, the annual cap for CTMS student loan 
repayments is $16,500 and the aggregate cap is $90,000, in alignment 
with Congress' last cap increase in 2003. Based on the U.S. Bureau of 
Labor Statistics Consumer Price Indexes for Tuition and Fees,\163\ 
college tuition and fixed fees increased 129 percent from 1990, when 
the authority for student loan repayments was originally enacted, to 
2003, when Congress increased the payment caps.\164\ Therefore, 
Congress increased the annual payment cap 67 percent and the aggregate 
payment cap 50 percent when costs of higher education had increased 129 
percent (from 1990 to 2003). From 2003 to 2020, college tuition and 
fixed fees increased 125 percent.\165\ It follows that because such 
costs have increased another 120 percent (from 2003 to 2020), the caps 
could similarly be increased again another 67 percent and 50 percent, 
respectively. As such, the CTMS student loan repayment amount per 
employee per year may be up to $16,500 (a 65 percent increase to have a 
dollar amount rounded to the nearest 500 for the cap amount) \166\ and 
the CTMS student loan repayment amount total per employee may be up to 
$90,000 (a 50 percent increase).\167\ See Sec.  158.641.
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    \163\ Available at https://www.bls.gov/cpi/factsheets/college-tuition.htm (last visited May 25, 2021).
    \164\ The index for January 1990, the first month of the year 
the student loan repayment authority was enacted, was 169.8, and for 
January 2003, when Congress increased the payment caps, was 388.6, 
for a total percent change of 129 percent (388.6-169.8 = 218.8; 
218.8 / 169.8 = 128.9%). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ``College 
tuition and fees in U.S. city average, all urban consumers, not 
seasonally adjusted'' available at https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CUUR0000SEEB01?output_view=data (last visited May 25, 2021).
    \165\ The index for January. 2003, when Congress increased the 
payment caps for student loan repayments, was 388.6, and in January. 
2020, was 874.769, for a total percent change of 125 percent 
(874.769-388.6 = 486.169; 486.169 / 388.6 = 125.1%). Id.
    \166\ If increasing the annual cap amount by 67%, the CTMS 
student loan repayment per employee annual cap would be $16,700 
($10,000 x 67% = $6,700; $10,000 + $6.700 = $16,700). Rounding 
$16,700 to the nearest 500 results in $16,500, which is a 65% 
increase ($16,500 (CTMS student loan repayment per employee annual 
cap)-$10,000 (Title 5 student loan repayment annual cap since 2003) 
= $6,500; $6,500 / $10,000 = 65%).
    \167\ $90,000 (CTMS student loan repayment per employee 
aggregate cap)-$60,000 (Title 5 student loan repayment aggregate cap 
since 2003) = $30,000; $30,000 / $60,000 = 50%.
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    Each DHS-CS employee receiving a CTMS student loan repayment must 
have a service agreement with a minimum service period, but unlike 
under Title 5 there is no standard length of minimum service period. 
See Sec.  158.641. Instead the length of minimum service periods will 
be determined under CTMS policy and based on the amount of the 
repayment to provide flexibility to match the service period to the 
loan repayment amount. Currently, an employee receiving a student loan 
repayment under 5 U.S.C. 5379 must have a service agreement and that 
service agreement must be a minimum of three years, regardless of the 
amount of repayment.
    Because CTMS is a different approach to talent management and the 
CTMS compensation system is a wholly different approach to compensating

[[Page 47877]]

employees, DHS expects to use CTMS student loan repayments differently, 
and expects to need more flexibility regarding minimum service periods 
when considering the total compensation packages of individuals. This 
includes adjusting the minimum service period in relationship to the 
amount of student loan repayment provided. As such, under Sec.  
158.641, DHS may set minimum service periods for CTMS student loan 
repayments commensurate with the repayment amount.
    All DHS-CS employees, except those providing uncompensated service 
and DHS advisory appointees, may be eligible to receive a CTMS student 
loan repayment. See Sec.  158.641. This includes DHS-CS employees 
serving in a renewable appointment, which as discussed previously is a 
time-limited appointment to a qualified position. Under 5 CFR 
537.104(a), only some employees serving in time-limited appointments 
can be eligible for Title 5 student loan repayments, and the duration 
of appointment is a factor. Because appointment under CTMS differ from 
appointments under Title 5 in types, purposes, and durations, a CTMS 
student loan repayment is available to eligible DHS-CS employees in 
renewable appointments. Note, however, that DHS ensures that a service 
agreement minimum service period does not exceed a DHS-CS employee's 
appointment duration.
    Other eligibility for a student loan repayment under Sec.  158.641 
aligns with eligibly criteria under 5 U.S.C. 5379 and 5 CFR part 537. 
As such, a DHS-CS employee is ineligible to receive a CTMS student loan 
repayment if DHS determines the employee's performance is unacceptable, 
as defined in 5 U.S.C. 4301(3), or the employee receives an 
unacceptable rating of record, or DHS determines the employee has 
engaged in misconduct. See Sec.  158.641. CTMS policy will address 
other eligibility criteria for CTMS loan repayments.
    CTMS policy will also address requirements for documenting the 
reason and basis for providing a CTMS student loan repayment, 
appropriate levels of review and approval, among other matters 
necessary for administering CTMS student loan repayments.
(c) CTMS Special Working Conditions Payments
    Under CTMS, another type of additional compensation that is 
available to DHS-CS employees is a payment for special working 
conditions. A payment for special working conditions is a payment of up 
to 25 percent of the receiving DHS-CS employee's salary as computed for 
a designated work period or series of work periods. See Sec.  158.642. 
A CTMS payment for special working conditions is based on Title 5 
authorities providing several types of payments: 5 U.S.C. 5545 
providing night, standby and hazardous duty differentials,\168\ 5 
U.S.C. 5546 providing pay for Sunday and holiday work,\169\ and 5 
U.S.C. 5757 providing extended assignment incentives.\170\ See Sec.  
158.642. These Title 5 authorities compensate Federal employees for 
work performed at night, on Sundays and holidays, for standby duty 
requiring employees to remain at or within the confines of employees' 
duty stations, for the performance of hazardous duty or duty involving 
physical hardship, and for extended assignments in atypical 
locations.\171\ These Title 5 authorities provide compensation for 
special or nonregular working conditions, and CTMS special working 
conditions payments serve that same purpose for the DHS-CS, but under 
the overall approach to talent management and compensation under CTMS. 
DHS uses special working conditions payments to address special working 
conditions that are specific to cybersecurity work. The Title 5 
authorities on which CTMS recognition is based provide some of the 
existing Federal compensation tools, which as discussed previously in 
III.B of this document, are cumbersome to use, ineffective for 
constructing market-sensitive compensation packages, and are not 
intended to form a cohesive toolset. Additionally, these Title 5 
authorities do not effectively account for the unpredictable nature of 
cybersecurity work, including specific conditions DHS-CS employees may 
encounter. CTMS special working conditions payments combine and 
streamline these existing tools to align with the CTMS design, 
including the CTMS compensation and salary systems. CTMS special 
working conditions payments allow for greater flexibility and agility 
than the Title 5 tools in providing competitive compensation, 
especially for conditions specific to cybersecurity work that are 
insufficiently accounted for in a DHS-CS employee's salary.
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    \168\ Under 5 U.S.C. 5545, an employee is entitled to receive an 
additional 10 percent of the employee's basic pay for regularly 
scheduled work between 6pm and 6am, an additional percentage up to 
25 percent of the employee's basic pay for regularly scheduled 
standby duty, and a differential up to 25 percent of the employee's 
basic pay for certain duty involving unusual physical hardship or 
hazard.
    \169\ Under 5 U.S.C. 5546, an employee is entitled to receive an 
additional 25 percent of the employee's basic pay for regularly 
scheduled work on a Sunday and an additional 100 percent of the 
employee's basic pay for certain work performed on a Federal 
holiday.
    \170\ Under 5 U.S.C. 5757, an agency may pay an employee a 
payment of 25 percent of the employee's basic pay or $15,000, 
whichever is greater, to retain that employee for a longer period in 
certain locations.
    \171\ U.S. Office of Personnel Management websites: Pay & Leave: 
Pay Administration ``Fact Sheet: Premium Pay (Title 5),'' https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-administration/fact-sheets/premium-pay-title-5/ (last visited May 25, 2021); Frequently 
Asked Questions: Pay & Leave ``Hazardous Duty Pay,'' https://www.opm.gov/FAQS/topic/payleave/index.aspx?cid=c4c7e7ca-48be-4650-bbc8-6ec08e8fd479 (last visited May 25, 2021); Policy, Data, 
Oversight: Pay & Leave ``Fact Sheet: Extended Assignment 
Incentives,'' https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-administration/fact-sheets/extended-assignment-incentives/ (last 
visited May 25, 2021).
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    DHS provides any special working conditions payments under a 
special working conditions payment program. See Sec.  158.642. A 
special working conditions program addresses special working conditions 
or circumstances that are otherwise unaccounted for or the Department 
determines are accounted for insufficiently in DHS-CS employees' other 
types of additional compensation and salary. DHS aims to provide DHS-CS 
employees with sufficiently competitive compensation, and DHS 
anticipates that working conditions may emerge that DHS may not have 
sufficiently accounted for in DHS-CS employees' compensation, 
especially their salaries. A special working conditions payments 
program enables DHS to adjust the additional compensation of DHS-CS 
employees to specifically address working conditions that DHS had not 
previously anticipated and accounted for, or DHS determines have been 
insufficiently accounted for, in DHS-CS employees' salaries.
    Special working conditions under Sec.  158.642 include when a 
supervisor or other appropriate official requires a DHS-CS employee to 
perform cybersecurity work determined to involve unusual physical or 
mental hardship, or performing work at atypical locations, at 
unexpected times, or for an uncommon duration of time exceeding the 
expectation that all DHS-CS employees occasionally work unusual hours 
and extended hours, as needed, to execute DHS's cybersecurity mission. 
See Sec.  158.642. For example, several DHS-CS employees with expertise 
in cybersecurity incident response might be required to work a 
substantial amount of time, including at night and beyond their minimum 
hours of work, in response to a cybersecurity incident affecting 
critical infrastructure. DHS might establish a special working 
conditions payment program to cover such conditions and provide 
payments

[[Page 47878]]

to acknowledge the special conditions as well as the mission impact of 
employees required to perform work under such conditions. Special 
working conditions may also involve both unusual physical or mental 
hardship and performing work such that it exceeds the expectation of 
occasionally working unusual and extended hours.
    DHS establishes any special working conditions program in alignment 
with the CTMS compensation strategy and determines whether to 
establish, adjust, or cancel a special working conditions payment 
program based on information from the CTMS work scheduling system and 
strategic talent planning. See Sec.  158.642. Using information from 
the work scheduling system ensures that a determination about a special 
working conditions program is made with an understanding of hours 
worked by DHS-CS employees and potential divergence from expected 
schedules. The CTMS compensation strategy, together with the talent 
market analysis from strategic talent planning, ensures that a special 
working conditions payment program reflects information about current 
compensation practices of other cybersecurity employers. See Sec.  
158.642. Given the ever-evolving nature of cybersecurity work, fierce 
competition for cybersecurity talent, and variety of compensation 
practices used by private sector cybersecurity employers, discussed 
previously in II.B of this document, DHS needs the flexibility to 
analyze the working conditions of DHS-CS employees as they arise, and 
if necessary, address them by providing additional compensation.
    For special working conditions payments, DHS is establishing a 
maximum amount as a percentage of a DHS-CS employee's salary computed 
for a work period or series of work periods because the Title 5 
authorities, on which special working conditions payments are based, 
all provide a limit for cash payments as a percentage of annual basic 
pay computed as an hourly rate. The percentage of basic pay under these 
Title 5 authorities is: 10 percent for nightwork; up to 25 percent for 
standby duty and for performance of hazardous duty or duty involving 
physical hardship; 25 percent for Sunday work; 25 percent for extended 
assignments; and 100 percent for holiday work.\172\ These percentages 
range from 10 percent to 100 percent, with most maximum percentages as 
25 percent or up to 25 percent, so DHS is establishing the percent 
amount for a special working conditions payment as up to 25 percent. 
Additionally, DHS applies the 25 percent maximum for a special working 
conditions payment based on computing the receiving DHS-CS employee's 
salary for a work period, which as defined in Sec.  158.705 is the 
equivalent of a biweekly pay period. DHS applies the payment maximum in 
this manner because administration of payments under the Title 5 
authorities, on which special working conditions payments are based, 
involves computation of the receiving employees' basic pay for a 
specific time-period, usually on an hourly basis.
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    \172\ 5 U.S.C. 5545-5546.
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    DHS determines eligibility for a payment for special working 
conditions under Sec.  158.642 and CTMS policy. Under Sec.  158.642, if 
a DHS-CS employee receives a payment for special working conditions, 
the employee is not automatically eligible or entitled to receive any 
additional such payments. Also, a DHS-CS employee receiving a salary 
equal to or greater than EX-IV is ineligible to receive a payment under 
this section. This ineligibility reflects that such additional payments 
are not necessary for DHS-CS employee receiving high salaries, and it 
also mirrors restrictions in Title 5 that make Federal employees 
receiving salaries under Title 5 greater than EX-IV ineligible for 
certain types of Title 5 additional compensation.\173\ CTMS policy will 
address other eligibility criteria for CTMS special working conditions 
payment.
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    \173\ See 5 CFR 534.408 (prohibiting members of the SES from 
receiving Title 5 premium pay, including overtime pay, and 
compensatory time in lieu of overtime may).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition to eligibility criteria, CTMS policy implementing the 
special working conditions payment program will address requirements 
for documenting the reason and basis for providing a special working 
conditions payment, and appropriate approval authorities, among other 
matters necessary for establishing and operating the program. See Sec.  
158.642.
    A special working conditions payment is in lieu of the types of 
Title 5 payments on which it is based. See Sec.  158.642. DHS-CS 
employees are ineligible for those types of Title 5 payments because 
special working conditions payments replace those types of Title 5 
payments for DHS-CS employees. Additionally, some of those types of 
Title 5 payments are considered premium pay and, as discussed 
previously, Title 5 premium pay generally does not apply under CTMS.
(d) CTMS Allowances in Nonforeign Areas
    Another type of additional compensation available to DHS-CS 
employees is an allowance in nonforeign areas under 5 U.S.C. 5941. See 
Sec.  158.643. Section 5941 provides a cost of living allowance for 
certain Federal employees stationed outside of the continental United 
States or in Alaska and such an allowance can be up to 25 percent of 
the receiving employee's basic pay. As discussed previously in III.C.3 
of this document, 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(3)(B) mandates this type of 
additional compensation, and also mandates that employees in qualified 
positions are eligible for such allowances under 5 U.S.C. 5941 on the 
same basis and to the same extent as if the employees were covered 
under section 5941, including eligibility conditions, allowance rates, 
and all other terms and condition in law or regulation. CTMS does just 
that in Sec.  158.643, which states a DHS-CS employee is eligible for 
and may receive an allowance under 5 U.S.C. 5941 and implementing 
regulations in 5 CFR part 591, subpart B on the same basis and to the 
same extent as if the employee is an employee covered by those 
authorities.
6. Other Compensation Provided in Accordance With OPM Regulations
    Under the CTMS compensation system, DHS is providing DHS-CS 
employees other types of additional compensation, including leave and 
other benefits. While DHS offers these other types of additional 
compensation under the authority in 6 U.S.C 658, DHS provides them in 
accordance with relevant provisions of other laws that apply to most 
Federal civil service employees. Many of these other types of 
additional compensation were established for Federal civilian employees 
decades ago for purposes still relevant to the talent management 
approach under CTMS, and these other types of additional compensation 
are administered using well-established processes DHS does not need to 
adjust for CTMS. As such, in Sec. Sec.  158.650, 158.652, and 158.653, 
DHS provides DHS-CS employees holidays, compensatory time-off for 
religious purposes, and traditional Federal employee benefits, 
including retirement, health benefits, and insurance programs, as well 
as transportation subsidies, in accordance with relevant provisions in 
Title 5.
    In Sec.  158.651, for leave under CTMS, DHS provides DHS-CS 
employees all the types of leave available to other Federal employees, 
including annual

[[Page 47879]]

leave, sick leave, family and medical leave, and other paid leave, in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. Chapter 63 and 5 CFR part 630. Although DHS 
provides leave for DHS-CS employees in accordance with these provisions 
of law, DHS modifies application of those laws regarding annual leave 
accumulation to maintain the integrity of CTMS and consistency of the 
approach to talent management under this part.
    For annual leave accumulation under CTMS, DHS will determine DHS-CS 
employees accumulation amounts under 5 U.S.C. 6304, which permits most 
Federal employees to accumulate 30 days of annual leave in one year and 
certain Federal government senior employees, including employees in SL/
ST and SES positions, to accumulate 90 days of annual leave in one 
year.\174\ Under this Title 5 annual leave accumulation structure, the 
90-day annual leave accumulation amount is reserved for certain 
employees, including employees in SL/ST and SES positions, with salary 
rates that exceed 120 percent of GS-15.
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    \174\ Under 5 U.S.C. 6304, other Federal employees stationed 
outside of the United States can accumulate 45 days of annual leave.
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    Under CTMS, DHS may apply a 90-day accumulation amount to DHS-CS 
employees receiving a salary that exceeds 120 percent of GS-15. See 
Sec.  158.651. As discussed previously in III.A.3 of this document, a 
qualified position is comparable to SL/ST and SES positions, and as 
such DHS could apply a 90-day accumulation amount to all DHS-CS 
employees. DHS is not doing this, however, because a higher 
accumulation amount has potential implications for paying out leave 
when an employee separates from Federal service. Instead, DHS is 
mirroring the Title 5 accumulation structure by reserving the 90-day 
accumulation amount for DHS-CS employees receiving a salary at or above 
the minimum salary for SL/ST and SES positions.
    DHS administers leave under CTMS in accordance with relevant 
provisions of other laws referenced in Sec. Sec.  158.651 and 158.655 
and in CTMS policy implementing leave for DHS-CS employees. As such, in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 6308, annual leave and sick leave accrued to 
the credit of a current Federal employee who is appointed to a 
qualified position without a break in service of more than three 
calendar days will be transferred to the employee's credit, and any 
leave balance for a DHS-CS employee departing the DHS-CS will be 
addressed in accordance with 5 CFR 630.209 and 630.501. See Sec.  
158.651.
    In Sec.  158.654, DHS is providing DHS-CS employees other types of 
payments, including severance pay, lump-sum leave pay outs, voluntary 
separation incentive payments, reservist differentials, and other 
similar allowances, differentials, and incentives, in accordance with 
relevant provisions of other laws governing those types of payments. To 
ensure DHS can offer any other type of additional compensation that 
becomes available to Federal civil service employees in the future, 
Sec.  158.654 states that DHS will also provide other payments similar 
to those listed in Sec.  155.654 and described in CTMS policy as being 
authorized under this part and provided in accordance with relevant 
provisions of other laws.
    Although DHS provides the types of payments listed in Sec.  158.654 
in accordance with relevant provisions of other laws under the 
authority in 6 U.S.C. 658, DHS may need to modify application of those 
relevant provisions of law to maintain the integrity of CTMS and 
consistency of the approach to talent management under this part. This 
is because some of the terms used in the relevant provisions of law are 
not used under CTMS, or a different term is used, and DHS may have to 
extrapolate between the terms in the relevant provision of law and CTMS 
concepts. For example, CTMS includes a ``part-time schedule'' and 
``contingent schedule,'' but Title 5 does not use such terms.
    Section 158.655 lists several clarifications for how CTMS terms and 
concepts relate to relevant provisions of other laws. For example, 
Sec.  158.655 explains a ``part-time schedule'' and ``contingent 
schedule'' are treated as ``part-time career employment'' and 
``intermittent employment,'' respectively, as defined in Title 5. 
Section 158.655 also explains that for purposes of compensation 
administration authorized under Sec. Sec.  158.650-158.654, DHS may 
convert the salary of a DHS-CS employee into an hourly rate, biweekly 
rate, or other rate and administer compensation based on consideration 
of the DHS-CS employee's work schedule. To ensure accurate 
administration of compensation, including leave, for DHS-CS employees 
in accordance with relevant provisions of Title 5, DHS may need to 
account for and record leave and other compensation earned and charged 
on an hourly basis.\175\
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    \175\ See e.g., 5 U.S.C. 5504 (providing computation of pay for 
biweekly pay periods); 5 CFR 630.206 (establishing a minimum charge 
for leave as one hour); U.S. General Accounting Office, Maintaining 
Effective Control over Employee Time and Attendance Reporting, GAO-
03-352G (Jan. 2003), 6 (``Most federal civilian employees are paid 
on an hourly basis (or fractions of an hour) and earn and charge 
leave on that basis . . . . To provide a basis for pay, leave, and 
benefits, the records [of the time an employee works] should include 
aggregate regular time, other time (e.g., overtime credit hours or 
compensatory time off), and leave'').
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    Also, Sec.  158.655 clarifies that if, in administering 
compensation under Sec. Sec.  158.650-158.654, DHS determines it is 
necessary to clarify the relationship between those sections and the 
relevant provisions of law referenced in those sections and any other 
relevant provisions of other laws, DHS will address the issue in new or 
revised CTMS policy. Thus, if DHS needs to modify application of those 
relevant provisions of law relating to compensation for the DHS-CS to 
maintain the integrity of CTMS and consistency of the approach to 
talent management under this part, DHS will capture any such modified 
application in CTMS policy.
7. CTMS Aggregate Compensation Limit
    The CTMS compensation system includes the CTMS aggregate 
compensation limit, which restricts certain additional compensation a 
DHS-CS employee may receive in a calendar year. See Sec.  158.604. 
Under CTMS, a DHS-CS employee's aggregate compensation is the 
employee's salary plus certain types of CTMS additional compensation. 
The aggregate compensation limit prohibits a DHS-CS employee from 
receiving any portion of a payment for certain types of CTMS additional 
compensation if that portion would cause the employee's aggregate 
compensation to exceed the limit.
    The CTMS aggregate compensation limit implements the additional 
compensation authority in 6 U.S.C. 658(b)(3) regarding the level 
authorized for such compensation. As discussed previously in III.A.3 of 
this document, DHS interprets this additional compensation authority to 
mean that CTMS additional compensation is subject to the aggregate 
compensation cap in 5 U.S.C. 5307. As also discussed in III.A.3 of this 
document, this Title 5 aggregate compensation cap has two cap amounts, 
and the Secretary has discretion for how to apply the two cap amounts 
to CTMS additional compensation. DHS is applying both cap amounts as 
the CTMS annual aggregate compensation limit.
    The CTMS aggregate compensation limit is one of the two amounts 
referenced in 5 U.S.C. 5307(d)(1): EX-I ($221,400 in 2021) or the Vice

[[Page 47880]]

President's salary amount ($255,800 in 2021). See Sec.  158.604. CTMS 
additional compensation when added to salary of a DHS-CS employee may 
not cause that employee's aggregate compensation to exceed either EX-I 
or the Vice President's salary, whichever is applicable to that 
employee.
    The applicable CTMS aggregate compensation limit amount for a DHS-
CS employee depends on the salary subrange for that individual's salary 
and the aggregate compensation amount assigned to that subrange. DHS 
will apply the CTMS aggregate compensation limit amounts in ascending 
order to the subranges in a CTMS salary structure. DHS will assign one 
of the two limit amounts to each subrange in a CTMS salary structure 
such that each subrange has an aggregate compensation limit that is 
greater than or equal to the salary maximum of that subrange. For 
example, a hypothetical subrange with a salary maximum of $225,000 is 
assigned the aggregate compensation limit of the Vice President's 
salary ($255,800 in 2021). A DHS-CS employee is not permitted to 
receive payment of certain types of additional compensation if that 
payment would cause the employee's aggregate compensation to exceed the 
applicable limit amount for that employee.
    Application of the CTMS aggregate compensation limit to DHS-CS 
employee compensation is based on the Title 5 aggregate compensation 
cap in 5 U.S.C. 5307 but is tailored to the CTMS compensation system. 
Under 5 U.S.C. 5307, an employee's aggregate compensation includes the 
employee's salary, plus any locality-based comparability payments, and 
certain types of additional compensation under Title 5.\176\ A DHS-CS 
employee's aggregate compensation is the employee's salary, including 
any LCTMS, and certain types of additional compensation. See Sec.  
158.604. Like locality-based comparability payments under 5 U.S.C. 
5304, which are subject to the Title 5 aggregate compensation cap,\177\ 
a LCTMS is considered part of a DHS-CS employee's salary for purposes 
of applying the CTMS aggregate compensation limit.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \176\ See also 5 CFR 530.202, definition of aggregate 
compensation.
    \177\ 5 CFR 530.202, definition of basic pay.
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    The types of CTMS additional compensation subject to the CTMS 
aggregate compensation limit are similar to or are the same types of 
compensation covered by the Title 5 aggregate compensation cap. The 
types of CTMS additional compensation considered part of a DHS-CS 
employee's aggregate compensation, and subject to the applicable 
aggregate compensation cap, are: Recognition payments, payments for 
special working conditions, payments for certain allowances and 
differentials under CTMS, and other similar payments described in CTMS 
policy. See Sec.  158.604.
    Recognition payments, which are based on awards and incentives 
under Title 5, are subject to the CTMS aggregate compensation limit, 
and this mirrors how Title 5 treats those awards and incentives under 
the Title 5 annual aggregate compensation cap.\178\ A recognition 
payment for a DHS-CS employee may be truncated if it would cause the 
employee's aggregate compensation to exceed the CTMS aggregate 
compensation limit applicable to that employee. In such a scenario, the 
DHS-CS employee forfeits any portion of a payment causing the 
employee's aggregate compensation to exceed that limit. See Sec.  
158.604.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \178\ 5 CFR 530.202, definition of aggregate compensation 
paragraphs (4)-(5); and 5 CFR 451.304(c).
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    Special working conditions payments are also subject to and may be 
limited by the CTMS aggregate compensation limit. See Sec.  158.542. As 
discussed previously, special working conditions payments are based on 
Title 5 authorities providing several types of payments, which are 
subject to the Title 5 aggregate compensation cap.\179\ Some of the 
types of payments listed in Sec.  158.654, which are provided in 
accordance with OPM regulations, are also subject to and may be limited 
by the CTMS aggregate compensation limit, which aligns with how these 
other payments are treated under the Title 5 aggregate compensation 
cap.\180\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \179\ 5 CFR 530.202, definition of aggregate compensation 
paragraph (3).
    \180\ 5 CFR 530.202, definition of aggregate compensation.
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    Aggregate compensation under CTMS excludes all other CTMS 
additional compensation, which mirrors application of the Title 5 
aggregate compensation cap. CTMS professional development and training 
opportunities, payments, and reimbursements are excluded from the CTMS 
aggregate compensation limit, which mirrors how Title 5 training and 
professional development is treated under the Title 5 aggregate 
compensation cap.\181\ CTMS student loan repayments are also excluded 
from the CTMS aggregate compensation limit because student loan 
repayments under Title 5 are not part of aggregate compensation under 
Title 5.\182\ Also, CTMS allowances in nonforeign areas, which will be 
provided on the same basis as the same allowance under Title 5, are not 
subject to the CTMS aggregate compensation limit because Title 5 
allowances in nonforeign areas are excluded from the Title 5 aggregate 
compensation limit.\183\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \181\ Id.
    \182\ Id. paragraph (14)(v).
    \183\ Id paragraph (14)(vi).
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    The main difference between the CTMS aggregate compensation limit 
and the Title 5 aggregate compensation cap, other than the necessary 
differences to tailor it to the CTMS compensation system, is that the 
CTMS aggregate compensation limit is a true limit. Once a DHS-CS 
employee's aggregate compensation reaches the applicable limit amount 
for that employee, any unpaid amounts of those types of additional 
compensation subject to the aggregate compensation limit do not roll 
over into the next calendar year. Under the Title 5 aggregate 
compensation cap, amounts of similar additional compensation under 
Title 5 that would cause the employee's aggregate compensation to 
exceed the cap are unpayable in that calendar year but become payable 
in the next calendar year.\184\ Under the CTMS aggregate compensation 
cap, a DHS-CS employee may not receive any portion of a payment for 
additional compensation subject to the applicable aggregate 
compensation limit that would cause the employee's aggregate 
compensation in any calendar year to exceed that limit amount, and the 
DHS-CS employee forfeits any such portion of a payment. See Sec.  
158.604.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \184\ See 5 CFR 530.204.
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    If DHS underestimates or overestimates a DHS-CS employee's 
aggregate compensation in a calendar year, DHS may make a corrective 
action. See Sec.  158.604. Such a corrective action would be necessary 
if an applicable limit amount changed, resulting in a DHS-CS employee 
receiving some additional compensation in excess of the applicable 
limit amount for that employee. A corrective action would also be 
necessary if DHS limited or prohibited an employee's aggregate 
compensation incorrectly. Corrective actions may include the Secretary 
or designee waiving a debt to the Federal government for a DHS-CS 
employee under 5 U.S.C. 5584, if warranted, or making appropriate 
corrective payments to a DHS-CS employee.

F. Deploying Talent: Subpart G

    Subpart G Deploying Talent, includes regulations addressing the 
CTMS deployment program. Under the

[[Page 47881]]

deployment program, DHS determines whether DHS needs to use CTMS to 
recruit and retain individuals possessing CTMS qualifications. See 
Sec.  158.701. The process of designating qualified positions involves 
determining both when DHS organizations need individuals with CTMS 
qualifications and when using CTMS would likely enhance recruiting and 
retaining those individuals.
    Under the deployment program, DHS also operationalizes aspects of 
other CTMS elements. See Sec.  158.701. The deployment program 
operationalizes aspects of the work valuation system by documenting 
applicable work and career structures for qualified positions and 
assignments.
    The deployment program operationalizes aspects of the talent 
acquisition system by providing requirements for documenting qualified 
positions established under the talent acquisition system and for 
matching newly hired DHS-CS employees with initial assignments. Under 
the deployment program, DHS also determines operational aspects of a 
newly appointed DHS-CS employee's appointment and assignment, such as 
the new employee's work schedule and duration of the assignment.
    The deployment program operationalizes aspects of the compensation 
system by providing requirements for determining a DHS-CS employee's 
official worksite and work schedule, both of which relate to and affect 
compensation for DHS-CS employees. Whether a DHS-CS employee is 
eligible for a local cybersecurity market supplement as part of the 
employee's salary depends on the employee's official worksite location, 
as does a DHS-CS employee's eligibility for a CTMS allowance in 
nonforeign areas. Additionally, DHS considers a DHS-CS employee's work 
schedule when reviewing work conditions or circumstances that may 
warrant providing a payment under the CTMS special working conditions 
payment program. Administration of a DHS-CS employee's salary and leave 
is also connected to the employee's work schedule and hours worked.
    Because the deployment program operationalizes aspects of the work 
valuation system, talent acquisition system, and compensation system, 
Sec.  158.709 states that the provisions of law relating to 
classification, appointment, and compensation listed in Sec. Sec.  
158.405, 158.502 and 158.605 do not apply under CTMS, to the DHS-CS, or 
to talent management under CTMS, including the CTMS deployment program.
1. CTMS Deployment Program
    Under the CTMS deployment program, DHS sets out the procedures for 
collaboration across DHS organizations to designate qualified positions 
and designate and staff assignments, as well as procedures to determine 
and document DHS-CS employees' official worksites, administer a work 
scheduling system, and perform necessary recordkeeping. See Sec.  
158.701.
    Under the deployment program, DHS: Establishes procedures for 
designating qualified positions in DHS organizations; designates and 
staffs assignments; determines and documents a DHS-CS employee's 
official worksite; administers a work scheduling system; and performs 
necessary recordkeeping, including documenting qualified positions and 
assignments. See Sec.  158.701. Each of these aspects of the deployment 
program are discussed subsequently.
2. Designating Qualified Positions
    Under the CTMS deployment program, DHS designates qualified 
positions when one or more DHS organizations requires individuals with 
CTMS qualifications to ensure the most effective execution of the DHS 
cybersecurity mission and the recruitment and retention of such 
individuals would be enhanced through use of CTMS. See Sec.  158.702. 
DHS organizations have a range of existing talent management practices 
they can use to hire, compensate, and develop talent under other 
statutory authorities and Federal personnel systems. CTMS is 
specifically designed to recruit and retain talent with CTMS 
qualifications, so determining that such qualifications are needed by a 
DHS organization is one factor indicating that using CTMS might benefit 
the organization. In addition, CTMS features new talent management 
practices specifically designed to address DHS's challenges recruiting 
and retaining cybersecurity talent. For circumstances in which a DHS 
organization is effectively recruiting and retaining certain 
cybersecurity talent without CTMS, a shift to CTMS's new talent 
management practices may not be necessary or efficient.
    The process of designating qualified positions involves DHS 
organizations requesting use of CTMS, following requirements for using 
CTMS, and ensuring availability of information necessary to designate 
qualified positions. See Sec.  158.702. DHS organizations considering 
using CTMS must ensure they understand the specialized design of CTMS, 
including differences from existing talent management practices; 
identify how they anticipate using CTMS to address their unique 
recruitment and retention challenges or goals; and consider their 
organizational readiness to use CTMS to hire, compensate, and develop 
DHS-CS employees. When first using CTMS, DHS organizations have to 
address a variety of operational requirements, including determining 
key officials for approval of talent management actions. CTMS policy 
will address procedures for requesting use of CTMS, requirements for 
DHS organizations using CTMS, and the necessary information for 
designating qualified positions.
    Designating qualified positions may result in establishing one or 
more new qualified positions or identifying and staffing one or more 
assignments, or both. See Sec.  158.702. As part of designating 
qualified positions, DHS considers the collective expertise of DHS-CS 
employees and the possibility of hiring new talent under the talent 
acquisition system. DHS might identify one or more existing DHS-CS 
employees with the CTMS qualifications needed for a new assignment or 
assignments and who are available to match to the assignment or 
assignments. Alternatively, DHS might decide to hire new talent with 
the needed CTMS qualifications. In the process of hiring new talent, 
DHS determines the number of new DHS-CS employees and the corresponding 
work levels or combination of work levels necessary to satisfy the 
talent need. For example, DHS might decide a particular talent need 
could be addressed only by a new DHS-CS employee at the expert level. 
DHS might determine that another talent need could be addressed either 
by one new DHS-CS employee at the expert level or several new DHS-CS 
employees at the entry level.
    Because designating qualified positions may result in establishing 
a new qualified position, designating qualified positions also involves 
budget and fiscal considerations. See Sec.  158.702.
3. Designating and Staffing Assignments
    The CTMS deployment program also establishes procedures for 
designating and staffing DHS-CS assignments. See Sec.  158.703. DHS 
designates assignments by defining combinations of DHS-CS cybersecurity 
work and CTMS qualifications that can be associated with one or more 
qualified positions. See Sec.  158.703. Designating assignments may 
result from designating qualified positions, as discussed previously in 
this document. CTMS policy will

[[Page 47882]]

address procedures for DHS organizations to designate assignments.
    DHS staffs DHS-CS assignments by matching DHS-CS employees with 
assignments, either as an initial assignment for an incoming DHS-CS 
employee or a subsequent assignment for a current DHS-CS employee. See 
Sec.  158.703. DHS matches a DHS-CS employee with an assignment based 
on alignment of the employee's CTMS qualifications with the specific 
subset of CTMS qualifications of an assignment. See Sec.  158.703.
    For initial assignments, DHS matches an individual with an 
assignment upon appointment to a qualified position based on such 
alignment. When matching an individual with an initial assignment, DHS 
may also consider input from the individual, input from DHS 
organizations, mission-related requirements determined by DHS officials 
with appropriate decision-making authority, and strategic talent 
priorities set by CTMS leadership. Considering this other input and 
information, in addition to CTMS qualifications, ensures the match 
reflects the best fit for the individual and ensure DHS strategically 
staffs assignments in alignment with priorities and goals for the DHS-
CS.
    When matching a DHS-CS employee with a subsequent assignment, DHS 
may also consider input from the employee; input from DHS 
organizations, especially the primary DHS organization of the 
employee's current assignment; information about the employee from the 
CTMS performance management program and the CTMS career development 
program; mission-related requirements; and strategic talent priorities. 
See Sec.  158.703. Considering this other information and input in 
matching DHS-CS employees with subsequent assignments ensures the match 
reflects the best fit for the DHS-CS employee and the best use of the 
DHS-CS employee's expertise to support the DHS cybersecurity mission.
    DHS develops and continually updates strategies for communicating 
with DHS-CS employees about subsequent assignment opportunities, in 
alignment with the career development program and based on information 
from development reviews. See Sec.  158.601. These strategies ensure 
that DHS-CS employees have opportunities to express interest in 
different cybersecurity work and DHS-CS assignments, including those 
that may assist them in enhancing their qualifications, and helps to 
foster a culture of continual learning within DHS-CS.
    A DHS-CS employee may have multiple assignments throughout the 
employee's service in a qualified position but only has one assignment 
at a time. Under CTMS, DHS-CS employees may continue assignments for 
years or shift assignments periodically to gain exposure to new work or 
apply their qualifications in different mission areas. The number and 
variety of assignments an employee has while in the DHS-CS will vary 
based on that employee's interests, strategic talent priorities, and 
how the employee's qualifications change over time.
    A DHS-CS employee's subsequent assignments may have a different 
primary DHS organization and worksite than the employee's initial 
assignment. For example, a DHS-CS employee may have an initial 
assignment in DHS OCIO, but later have a subsequent assignment in CISA. 
While that DHS-CS employee's assignment and primary DHS organization 
changes, the employee is still part of the DHS-CS and still has the 
same qualified position.
    Occasionally, if necessary, DHS may direct a subsequent assignment 
for a DHS-CS employee. See Sec.  158.708. Certain directed subsequent 
assignments expected to last six months or more require appropriate 
notice and consultation with the affected DHS-CS employee. Directed 
subsequent assignments expected to last less than six months is 
considered temporary, and as such do not require the same formal notice 
procedures.
    For directed subsequent assignments expected to last six months or 
more with an official worksite in the DHS-CS employee's current 
commuting area, DHS provides the employee at least 30 calendar days 
written notice. See Sec.  158.708. This timeframe is intended to 
provide the DHS-CS employee with sufficient notice of the anticipated 
change to consider and plan for associated adjustments to the 
employee's commute and other work-related routines.
    For directed subsequent assignments expected to last six months or 
more with an official worksite outside of the DHS-CS employee's current 
commuting area, DHS consults with that employee on the reasons for the 
assignment and the employee's preferences regarding the proposed change 
in assignment. See Sec.  158.708. DHS also provides that employee 
written notice at least 90 calendar days before the effective date of 
the directed subsequent assignment. This timeframe, modeled after 
similar reassignments in the SES,\185\ is intended to provide the DHS-
CS employee with sufficient notice of the anticipated change to 
consider and plan for significant associated adjustments, including 
potential changes of residence and development of a new commute and 
other work-related routines. The written notice requirements for 
directed subsequent assignments can only be waived by the DHS-CS 
employee matched to the assignment. For directed subsequent 
assignments, DHS also pays or reimburses appropriate expenses under and 
in accordance the Federal Travel Regulations at 41 CFR Chapter 301-302.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \185\ 5 CFR 317.901 (providing 60-days notice for reassignments 
outside of an employee's current commuting area). DHS has extended 
the timeframe in recognition that CTMS will be used to manage all 
DHS-CS employees, including individuals just beginning a career in 
cybersecurity.
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4. Official Worksite
    The CTMS deployment program includes the procedures for determining 
and documenting official worksites for DHS-CS employees. See Sec.  
158.704. Those procedures are modeled after 5 CFR 531.605, which 
governs determining the official worksite for GS employees in 
geographic areas defined for purposes of GS locality payments. Because 
5 CFR 531.605 does not apply to DHS-CS employees, DHS is creating the 
procedures in Sec.  158.704 through which DHS determines a DHS-CS 
employee's official worksite for purposes of administering 
compensation. A DHS-CS employee's official worksite is especially 
important for determining eligibility for CTMS local cybersecurity 
talent market supplements and CTMS allowances in nonforeign areas.
    Under CTMS, a DHS-CS employee's official worksite is the geographic 
location where the employee regularly performs cybersecurity work or 
where the employee's cybersecurity work is based. In determining a DHS-
CS employee's official worksite, DHS considers telework, variation in 
location where the employee performs cybersecurity work, or other 
temporary situations affecting the location where the employee performs 
cybersecurity work. Given the variety of work arrangements possible for 
DHS-CS employees as they perform the work of their assignments, there 
may be situations in which the location where a DHS-CS employee 
performs work varies or is not consistent. In such cases, DHS may need 
to review a DHS-CS employee's specific work arrangement to determine 
the employee's official worksite.
    DHS documents a DHS-CS employee's official worksite as part of

[[Page 47883]]

documenting the employee's appointment and updates that documentation 
to reflect changes in the employee's official worksite, as necessary. 
DHS documents changes in a DHS-CS employee's official worksite only 
when such changes are expected to last, or do last, for six months or 
more. Such changes expected to last less than six months are considered 
temporary in alignment with the Federal Travel Regulations at 41 CFR 
chapter 301. DHS addresses temporary changes, as necessary, using the 
Federal Travel Regulations.
5. Work Scheduling
    Under the CTMS deployment program, DHS is establishing and 
administering a work scheduling system for DHS-CS employees. The CTMS 
work scheduling system accounts for the unpredictable nature of 
cybersecurity work. The work scheduling system also allows DHS to 
ensure that the performance of cybersecurity work is not constrained or 
impeded by rigid scheduling rules and structures designed for more 
predictable types of work or for administration of types of 
compensation, such as Title 5 premium pay and overtime pay under the 
FLSA, that are not part of the CTMS compensation system.
    The work scheduling system ensures agility for DHS in scheduling 
cybersecurity work and the availability of DHS-CS employees to perform 
the cybersecurity work associated with their assignments. See Sec.  
158.705. The work scheduling system, including associated work schedule 
types and requirements, enables scheduling the work of DHS-CS employees 
with enough flexibility to address a variety of mission circumstances, 
while also ensuring that DHS-CS employees are available to perform work 
at required times. The work scheduling system also ensures clear 
expectations for DHS-CS employees about when they are expected to 
perform work and flexibility for DHS-CS employees in scheduling and 
performing such work. See Sec.  158.705. Such flexibility for DHS-CS 
employees allows DHS to offer a variety of work arrangements that may 
appeal to cybersecurity talent. The work scheduling system provides DHS 
organizations, DHS-CS employees, and their supervisors with options for 
scheduling and performing work throughout a work period. These options 
includes different types of schedules, procedures for determining and 
updating a DHS-CS employee's work schedule, and requirements for 
communicating about anticipated work hours to ensure DHS-CS employees 
and their supervisors maintain a shared understanding of work schedules 
and how employees' intend to meet work schedule requirements. 
Additionally, the work scheduling system ensures accurate recording of, 
accounting for, and monitoring of hours worked by DHS-CS employees as 
required by applicable Federal personnel and payroll recordkeeping 
standards. See Sec.  158.705.
    CTMS includes new definitions specific to the CTMS work scheduling 
system. For example, ``work period'' means a two-week period of 14 
consecutive days that begins on a Sunday and ends on a Saturday, and is 
the equivalent of a biweekly pay period. See Sec.  158.705. 
Increasingly, existing Federal civilian compensation administration has 
become linked to the biweekly pay periods and the CTMS work scheduling 
system acknowledges this linkage between how DHS-CS employees perform 
work and how they are compensated. Another example of a new definition 
specific to the CTMS work scheduling system is ``minimum hours of 
work,'' which means the minimum number of hours that a DHS-CS employee 
is required to work, or account for with time-off, during a work 
period, and is the equivalent to the term ``basic work requirement'' 
defined in 5 U.S.C. 6121. See Sec.  158.705. A DHS-CS employee's 
minimum hours of work determines the employee's biweekly salary payment 
for the applicable work period. A DHS-CS employee's minimum hours of 
work depends on the employee's schedule.
    The CTMS work scheduling system features three main types of 
schedules: Full-time, part-time, and contingent. See Sec.  158.705. A 
full-time schedule, which is 80 hours per work period, is most similar 
to a full-time schedule under Title 5. A part-time schedule, which is a 
specified number of hours less than 80 hours per work period, is most 
similar to part-time career employment under Title 5. A contingent 
schedule is an irregular number of hours up to 80 hours per work period 
and is intended for cases when cybersecurity work is sporadic and 
cannot be regularly scheduled in advance. A DHS-CS employee on a 
contingent schedule does not have a minimum hours of work requirement, 
but has a maximum number of 80 hours per work period and a maximum 
number of total hours throughout the employee's appointment that is 
determined at the time of appointment. A contingent schedule is most 
similar to an intermittent schedule under Title 5. For DHS-CS employees 
with both part-time and contingent schedules, DHS closely monitors 
hours worked over time and considers, with input from the employee and 
the employee's supervisor, whether changes to another schedule type are 
necessary and appropriate.
    A DHS-CS employee's work schedule, and any minimum hours of work, 
is determined at the time of appointment and recorded as part of 
documenting the employee's qualified position. See Sec.  158.705. A 
DHS-CS employee's work schedule and minimum hours of work may change 
during the employee's service in the DHS-CS and DHS records any such 
updates in the documentation associated with the employee's qualified 
position.
    All DHS-CS employees are expected to perform DHS-CS cybersecurity 
work associated with their assignments, especially in response to 
exigent circumstances and emergencies, including cybersecurity 
incidents. See Sec.  158.705. This may require cybersecurity work to be 
performed at unexpected times or for more hours than the minimum number 
of hours associated with the employees' schedules. Hours worked by a 
DHS-CS employee that exceed that employee's minimum hours of work do 
not affect the employee's salary nor result in any automatic 
eligibility for or entitlement to compensation, including any type of 
additional compensation. See Sec.  158.705.
    DHS monitors the hours worked and reported by DHS-CS employees for 
purposes of managing the DHS-CS, including considering any changes to 
DHS-CS employees' schedules, and administering compensation, including 
assisting in consideration of any payment under a CTMS special working 
conditions program. See Sec.  158.705. As mentioned previously, DHS 
considers a DHS-CS employee's work schedule when reviewing work 
conditions or circumstances that may warrant providing a payment under 
a special working conditions payment program.
    DHS-CS employees with full-time and part-time schedules are 
expected to work at least their minimum hours of work. See Sec.  
158.705. If the hours actually worked by the employee are less than the 
employee's minimum hours of work, the employee must use time-off or 
must be placed in an appropriate non-pay status to account for the 
difference between hours actually worked by the employee and the 
employee's minimum hours of work.
    A DHS-CS employee's hours worked directly impacts the employee's 
compensation. A DHS-CS employee's hours worked is important for salary 
administration generally and is a factor in providing CTMS special 
working

[[Page 47884]]

conditions payments, holidays, leave, and compensatory time-off for 
religious purposes. See Sec.  158.705. In alignment with the CTMS 
compensation strategy, the CTMS work scheduling system acknowledges the 
unpredictable nature of cybersecurity work and the expectation that 
DHS-CS employees occasionally work unusual hours and extended hours, as 
needed, to execute the DHS cybersecurity mission, especially in 
response to exigent circumstances and emergencies. The work scheduling 
system also reflects an understanding of the cybersecurity talent 
market, especially current work expectations and arrangements used by 
other employers. Through the CTMS work scheduling system, DHS is able 
to accurately administer DHS-CS employees' salaries, including based on 
DHS-CS employees' hours worked, to ensure that DHS employees receive 
sufficiently competitive compensation designed for their recruitment 
and retention.
    DHS will implement the work scheduling system in CTMS policy and 
may establish other work scheduling requirements for DHS-CS employees, 
including designated days, hours, core hours, or limits on the number 
of work hours per day. The flexibility to establish other work 
scheduling requirements allows DHS to adjust to and effectively manage 
changes linked to the unpredictable nature of cybersecurity work, and 
respond to work arrangements used by other cybersecurity employers.
6. DHS-CS Recordkeeping
    Under the CTMS deployment program, DHS creates records of a DHS-CS 
employee's employment in the DHS-CS. See Sec.  158.706. DHS documents 
qualified positions and assignments, as well as other necessary 
recordkeeping, and updates those documents and records as necessary.
    DHS documents a qualified position by documenting an individual's 
appointment to a qualified position. See Sec.  158.076. Documentation 
of an individual's qualified position includes a description of the 
individual's CTMS qualifications and DHS-CS cybersecurity work that can 
be performed through application of those qualifications. Such 
documentation also includes applicable work and career structures, such 
as the individual's work level. Documentation of an individual's 
qualified positions also includes the individual's salary, current 
assignment, official worksite, and work schedule.
    As discussed previously and stated in Sec.  158.522, a DHS-CS 
employee serves in the same qualified position for the duration of 
employment in the DHS-CS, regardless of any changes to the employee's 
assignments, including primary DHS organizations or official worksite. 
DHS updates the documentation associated with a DHS-CS employee's 
qualified position to reflect changes affecting the employee's 
qualified position, such as enhancements to CTMS qualifications, any 
subsequent assignment, changes to applicable work and career 
structures, and changes to official worksite or work schedule. Such a 
change in documentation does not change the DHS-CS employee's qualified 
position or indicate that DHS has appointed the employee to a different 
qualified position.
    Recordkeeping under CTMS also includes documenting assignments. 
Documentation of an assignment includes specific assignment information 
that describes the DHS-CS cybersecurity work activities of the 
assignment. See Sec.  158.706. DHS also documents the timeframe of the 
assignment, the DHS organization to which the DHS-CS employee is 
assigned for the duration of the assignment, personnel security 
requirements for the assignment, location of the assignment, 
requirements and information related to work schedule, and information 
related to the performance management program (e.g., information 
relevant for appraisal reviews, mission impact reviews, and development 
reviews such as goals and standards for evaluating performance). CTMS 
assignment information is similar to information contained in a series 
of artifacts commonly produced under Title 5, including a position 
description, performance plan, and individual development plan.
    Updates to the documentation associated with a DHS-CS employee's 
qualified position also are not a promotion, transfer, or reassignment 
for any other purpose under 5 U.S.C. or 5 CFR, except as necessary for 
recordkeeping purposes only. See Sec.  158.706. CTMS does not contain 
promotions, transfers, or reassignments as defined in Title 5 because 
they are actions defined based on talent management concepts that are 
inapplicable and not compatible with CTMS.\186\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \186\ See e.g. 5 CFR 210.102(b)(11) (defining ``promotion'' 
generally under Title 5 to mean a change to a higher grade when both 
the old and the new positions are under the GS or under the same 
type graded wage schedule); 5 CFR 531.203 (defining ``promotion'' 
for purposes under the GS to mean a GS employee's movement from one 
GS grade to a higher GS grade).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    While CTMS does not include certain Title 5 concepts, DHS may need 
to use certain Title 5 terms for recordkeeping purposes to ensure 
talent management actions for DHS-CS employees are administered and 
documented properly. DHS uses existing Federal personnel recordkeeping 
processes, standards, requirements, and systems of record, which use 
Title 5 terms, for personnel records related to employees in the DHS-
CS. To accommodate the new approach to talent management under CTMS, 
DHS may need to use those Federal personnel recordkeeping processes, 
standards, requirements, and systems of record differently from how DHS 
uses them to support other existing personnel systems. For example, 
although a change in a DHS-CS assignment does not constitute a 
reassignment for purposes of Title 5, DHS may process a change in 
assignment for a DHS-CS employee as a ``reassignment'' and generate 
associated records, even though existing Federal personnel 
recordkeeping guidance defines ``reassignment'' as a change from one 
position to another position.\187\ CTMS policy will address the 
integration of CTMS talent management actions with existing Federal 
personnel recordkeeping process, standards, requirements, and systems 
of record. See Sec.  158.706
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \187\ U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Guide to Processing 
Personnel Action (Mar. 2017), page 14-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. Details and Opportunities Outside of the DHS-CS
    DHS may detail DHS-CS employees outside of DHS. See Sec.  158.707. 
Detailing a DHS-CS employee outside of DHS under the CTMS deployment 
system may result in enhanced qualifications of the employee upon 
return to DHS. Additionally, detailing a DHS-CS employee may contribute 
to executing the DHS cybersecurity mission. For example, DHS is 
responsible for the security of the .gov domain and detailing a DHS-CS 
employee to another agency to support that agency with its .gov 
security would contribute to carrying out DHS's responsibilities.
    DHS may approve a variety of details and external opportunities for 
DHS-CS employees under existing provisions of Title 5 and other laws 
governing details outside of DHS. See Sec.  158.707. When detailing a 
DHS-CS employee under those other laws, DHS will abide by all terms and 
conditions of those laws. As such, only DHS-CS employees in continuing 
appointments may be assigned under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act 
because such

[[Page 47885]]

appointments are analogous to the types of appointments eligible for 
assignment under that Act.\188\ Given the unique CTMS work valuation 
system and talent acquisition system, individuals in other Federal 
personnel systems or from outside of the Federal government may not be 
detailed to a qualified position in the DHS-CS. See Sec.  158.707.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \188\ See 5 CFR part 334; U.S. Office of Personnel Management 
website Policy, Data Oversight: Hiring Information, https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/intergovernment-personnel-act/#url=Provisions (last visited May 25, 
2021).
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G. Developing Talent: Subpart H

    Subpart H, Developing Talent, includes regulations addressing 
performance management and development of DHS-CS employees and 
establishes two elements of CTMS: The performance management program 
and the career development program. DHS uses the CTMS performance 
management program to: Establish and maintain individual accountability 
among DHS-CS employees; manage, recognize, and develop performance of 
DHS-CS employees; and improve effectiveness in executing the DHS 
cybersecurity mission. See Sec.  158.802. DHS uses the CTMS career 
development program to guide career progression of DHS-CS employees, 
ensure development of the collective expertise of DHS-CS employees, and 
ensure continued alignment between DHS-CS employee qualifications and 
the set of CTMS qualifications. See Sec.  158.803. The authority in 6 
U.S.C 658 does not impact existing laws regarding performance 
management and career development, and DHS is establishing the CTMS 
performance management program under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 43 and 5 CFR part 
430. DHS is establishing the CTMS career development program under 5 
U.S.C. Chapter 41 and 5 CFR 410 and 430.
    DHS is establishing the CTMS performance management program and the 
CTMS career development program in alignment with the DHS-CS's core 
values and the goals of the CTMS compensation strategy. This alignment 
reinforces the core values of expertise, innovation, and adaptability, 
and underscores the expectation of continual learning for DHS-CS 
employee performance and development. DHS-CS employees must ensure that 
their CTMS qualifications remain fresh as technology and threats as 
well as cybersecurity techniques and tactics change.
    Alignment with the goals of the CTMS compensation strategy ensures 
that DHS manages DHS-CS employee performance with a focus on those 
goals of exceptional CTMS qualifications and mission impact, excellence 
and innovation in the performance of DHS-CS cybersecurity work, and 
continual learning. This focus aligns with opportunities for additional 
compensation, such as CTMS recognition, which is based primarily on 
mission impact, as discussed previously.
    Alignment with the CTMS compensation strategy goal of continual 
learning is particularly important for performance management and 
career development. Such alignment reinforces that DHS-CS employees are 
expected to enhance their CTMS qualifications, which ultimately 
contributes to mission impact as DHS-CS employees apply those enhanced 
qualifications to perform DHS-CS cybersecurity work. The goal of 
continual learning also supports career progression, which is based on 
enhancements to CTMS qualifications and salary progression as discussed 
subsequently.
1. CTMS Performance Management Program
    Performance management under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 43 and 5 CFR part 430 
is the systematic process by which an agency involves its employees, as 
individuals and members of a group, in improving organizational 
effectiveness in the accomplishment of agency mission and goals.\189\ 
Under 5 CFR 430.102, improving organizational effectiveness in the 
accomplishment of an agency's missions and goals should be integrated 
with other agency processes including individual accountability, 
recognition and development. To emphasize the linkage between 
individual accountability, recognition, and development in improving 
organizational effectiveness, the CTMS performance management program 
implements the systematic process of performance management for DHS-CS 
employees with three ongoing reviews: Appraisal reviews, development 
reviews, and mission impact reviews. See Sec. Sec.  158.802, 158.804-
158.806.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \189\ 5 CFR 430.102.
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    Collectively, the three ongoing reviews are designed to foster and 
encourage the improvement of organizational effectiveness in the 
accomplishment of agency mission and goals through individual 
accountability, contributions to the mission, and employee development, 
all of which are fundamental to performance management under 5 CFR part 
430. CTMS appraisal reviews target individual accountability. CTMS 
development reviews focus on continual learning, and mission impact 
reviews serve as a critical intersection point for the other two 
reviews. As part of CTMS mission impact reviews, DHS analyzes and 
describes a DHS-CS employee's influence on the execution of the DHS 
cybersecurity mission through the application of the DHS-CS employee's 
CTMS qualifications to perform DHS-CS cybersecurity work. In turn, DHS 
uses the results of mission impact reviews to support decisions 
relating to the type and amount of CTMS recognition a DHS-CS employee 
may receive.
    To complete the three reviews under the CTMS performance management 
program, DHS may collect information and input on a periodic or ongoing 
basis from the DHS-CS employee being reviewed, other DHS-CS employees, 
the employee's supervisor, and other appropriate officials. See Sec.  
158.802. Periodic or ongoing gathering of information and input from 
such individuals ensures that DHS has sufficient information from 
individuals familiar with a DHS-CS employee's CTMS qualifications and 
performance of DHS-CS work through one or more assignments. Such 
information and input enable DHS to make informed determinations and 
take appropriate talent management actions related to all three types 
of reviews under the CTMS performance management program.
    DHS conducts CTMS appraisal reviews using a performance appraisal 
program, established specifically for DHS-CS employees, that fulfills 
the specific requirements for appraisal reviews under 5 CFR 430. DHS 
uses the CTMS appraisal program to review and evaluate the performance 
of DHS-CS employees, and to ensure DHS-CS employees' individual 
accountability. See Sec.  158.804. The appraisal program for DHS-CS 
employees includes one or more progress reviews, as defined in 5 CFR 
430.203, and an appraisal that results in a rating of record, as 
defined in 5 CFR 430.203. DHS addresses unacceptable performance, as 
defined in 5 U.S.C. 4301(3), under the provisions of 5 CFR part 432 or 
part 752.
    As mentioned previously, a DHS-CS employee is ineligible to receive 
CTMS recognition if DHS determines a DHS-CS employee's performance is 
unacceptable or the employee receives an unacceptable rating of record. 
See Sec. Sec.  158.630 and 158.804. For the same reasons, a DHS-CS 
employee may also be excluded from mission impact reviews. See 158.804. 
Mission impact reviews serve as a basis for decisions about CTMS 
recognition, and a DHS-CS

[[Page 47886]]

employee should not be recognized if the employee's performance is 
unacceptable.
    CTMS mission impact reviews are used to evaluate a DHS-CS 
employee's mission impact throughout the employee's service in a 
qualified position and to generate a mission impact summary at least 
annually. See Sec.  158.805. Mission impact reviews capture DHS-CS 
employee mission impact on an ongoing basis. Application of a DHS-CS 
employee's CTMS qualifications to successfully and proficiently perform 
DHS-CS cybersecurity work results in mission impact attributable to 
that employee. In reviewing a DHS-CS employee's mission impact, 
individually or as part of a group or both, DHS considers a variety of 
factors such as: Superior application of qualifications to perform DHS-
CS cybersecurity work; significant enhancements to qualifications; 
special contributions to cybersecurity technologies, techniques, 
tactics, or procedures; and notable improvements to execution of the 
DHS cybersecurity mission.
    Mission impact reviews are closely connected to CTMS compensation. 
Capturing, encouraging, and recognizing DHS-CS employee mission impact 
is part of how DHS manages the DHS-CS based on the DHS-CS's core values 
and in alignment with the goals of the compensation strategy as 
previously discussed. As a result of mission impact reviews, DHS makes 
distinctions among DHS-CS employees to support decisions related to 
CTMS recognition.
    CTMS development reviews are used to review a DHS-CS employee's 
career progression throughout the employee's service in the DHS-CS. See 
Sec.  158.806. As described under Sec.  158.803, career progression in 
the DHS-CS is based on enhancement of CTMS qualifications and salary 
progression resulting from recognition. DHS uses development reviews to 
generate a development summary at least annually for each DHS-CS 
employee, and development summaries may include plans for the learning 
and career progression of a DHS-CS employee or group of DHS-CS 
employees. DHS may conduct development reviews concurrently with 
mission impact reviews.
    As part of development reviews, DHS may compare, categorize, and 
rank DHS-CS employees to support decisions related to professional 
development and training, as well as subsequent assignments. See Sec.  
158.806. Information from development reviews can help DHS determine 
which types of trainings would benefit DHS-CS employees the most. Such 
information is also useful in tailoring professional development 
offerings for DHS-CS employees. DHS may also use information from 
development reviews in matching DHS-CS employees to subsequent 
assignments. Certain subsequent assignments may assist DHS-CS employees 
in maintaining and enhancing their CTMS qualifications, including 
through exposure to specific types of cybersecurity work. As mentioned 
previously, under the deployment program, DHS communicates with DHS-CS 
employees about such subsequent assignment opportunities.
    Development reviews connect the CTMS performance management program 
and the CTMS career development program. Development reviews are the 
primary means by which DHS determines the extent to which DHS-CS 
employees have enhanced their CTMS qualifications and thus assist DHS 
in guiding career progression for DHS-CS employees under the career 
development program.
2. CTMS Career Development Program
    DHS is establishing and administering the CTMS career development 
program to guide DHS-CS employee career progression, ensure development 
of the collective expertise of DHS-CS employees through continual 
learning, and ensure the continued alignment between the qualifications 
of DHS-CS employees and the set of CTMS qualifications. See Sec.  
158.803. The career development program is closely linked to the CTMS 
performance management program and DHS will use development reviews 
from the performance management program as part of the career 
development program.
    Career progression in the DHS-CS is based on enhancement of CTMS 
qualifications and salary progression resulting from recognition 
adjustments. See Sec.  158.803. Enhancement of CTMS qualifications is 
one component of career progression in the DHS-CS. DHS needs the 
collective expertise of the DHS-CS to keep pace with the continual 
evolution of cybersecurity work. Salary progression is another 
component of career progression in the DHS-CS. As DHS-CS employees 
progress through their careers, DHS recognizes DHS-CS employees' 
advances through recognition adjustments. As mentioned previously, CTMS 
is not a longevity-based personnel system, and career progression in 
the DHS-CS is not based on length of service in the DHS-CS or the 
Federal government.
    Under the CTMS career development program, DHS guides career 
progression of DHS-CS employees using development strategies based on 
information from development reviews, mission-related requirements, and 
strategic talent priorities. See Sec.  158.803. DHS aims to guide the 
career progression of DHS-CS employees to ensure that DHS-CS employees 
are prepared to execute the DHS cybersecurity mission, including into 
the future.
    Reviewing and encouraging DHS-CS employee career progression is 
part of how DHS manages the DHS-CS based on the DHS-CS's core values 
and in alignment with the goals of the compensation strategy as 
previously discussed. Reviewing and encouraging excellence, innovation, 
and continual learning through professional development and training 
opportunities and certain subsequent assignments ensures DHS-CS 
employees are recognized for such progression. DHS needs the collective 
expertise of the DHS-CS to keep pace with the ever-evolving nature of 
cybersecurity work, cybersecurity risks, and cybersecurity threats, and 
development reviews help foster and encourage a DHS-CS with similarly 
evolving expertise.
    The career development program emphasizes continual learning. DHS 
needs the collective expertise of the DHS-CS to keep pace with the 
evolution of cybersecurity work and the dynamic DHS cybersecurity 
mission. DHS also needs to ensure the DHS-CS collective expertise 
reflects the set of CTMS qualifications. The career development 
program, and its emphasis on continual learning, assists DHS in 
accomplishing this.
    DHS establishes, maintains, and communicates criteria for continual 
learning for DHS-CS employees. Such criteria include recommended and 
required learning activities, such as: Completion of a specific course 
of study; completion of mission-related training defined in 5 CFR 
410.101; performance of certain cybersecurity work as part of DHS-CS 
assignments; and participation in opportunities for CTMS professional 
development and training. See Sec.  158.803. DHS aims to utilize all 
available opportunities for DHS-CS employee development, including 
opportunities under CTMS and under Title 5. Such opportunities may 
include subsequent assignments, details outside of DHS, and training 
and professional development under Title 5, such as academic degree 
training under 5 U.S.C. 4107.
    DHS verifies a DHS-CS employee's enhancement of CTMS 
qualifications, which may include review by the CTMB or assessment 
using standardized

[[Page 47887]]

instruments and procedures designed to measure the extent to which a 
DHS-CS employee has enhanced the employee's qualifications. DHS-CS 
employees may also participate in a formal assessment process for DHS 
to verify enhancement of CTMS qualifications.

H. Federal Employee Rights and Requirements & Advisory Appointments: 
Subparts I & J

    Subpart I contain regulations addressing Federal civil service 
employee rights and requirements that apply under CTMS and in the DHS-
CS. Subpart J addresses CTMS political appointments, known as advisory 
appointments. These subparts clarify application to DHS-CS employees of 
certain protections and requirements for Federal employees and describe 
employment in the DHS-CS for DHS-CS advisory appointees.
1. Subpart I--Employee Rights, Requirements, and Input
    Subpart I, Employee Rights, Requirements, and Input, contains 
regulations establishing a program for addressing DHS-CS employee input 
specific to the DHS-CS and a DHS-CS employee's employment. Subpart I 
also clarifies that certain requirements and protections for Federal 
employees apply for DHS-CS employees.
    DHS-CS employees retain rights and access to processes that may be 
relevant to employment in the DHS-CS. The provisions of 5 U.S.C. 
Chapter 75 and 5 U.S.C. 4303 regarding adverse actions and 5 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35, Subchapter I regarding reductions in force apply to talent 
management actions under CTMS. See Sec.  158.901. Also, DHS-CS 
employees retain rights, as provided by law, to seek review of 
employment-related actions before third parties, such as the Equal 
Employment Opportunity Commission, Merit Systems Protection Board, 
Office of Special Counsel and Department of Labor. See Sec.  158.901. 
Additionally, back pay remains available under 5 U.S.C. 5596 for 
unjustified or unwarranted talent management actions, and such actions 
have the same meaning as personnel actions in 5 U.S.C. 2302(a)(2). See 
Sec.  158.901.
    Like other Federal officers and employees, DHS-CS employees are 
employees covered by the Ethics in Government Act section 101(f)(3), 
and are subject to the criminal conflict of interest rules as well as 
government ethics requirements. See Sec.  158.902. These include: 
criminal conflict of interest provisions in 18 U.S.C. 201-209; Ethics 
in Government Act, as amended, and implementing regulations in 5 CFR, 
Chapter XVI, Subchapter B; Supplemental Standards of Conduct for 
Employees of the Department of Homeland Security in 5 CFR part 4601; 
and DHS policy. See Sec.  158.902. Under these ethics requirements, 
DHS-CS employees must seek approval for certain outside activities, 
comply with ethics program requirements, and other applicable laws, 
including post-government employment restrictions. See Sec.  158.902.
    In addition to the rights and access to processes outside of CTMS, 
DHS-CS employees also have access to an employee input program under 
CTMS. DHS is establishing a program for DHS-CS employees to express 
employment-related concerns and recommendations for enhancing CTMS 
administration and DHS-CS management. See Sec.  158.903. The CTMS 
employee input program provides a process for DHS-CS employees to 
request review of certain talent management actions. DHS will implement 
this program in CTMS policy, and that policy will address the talent 
management actions covered by the program and the process for 
expressing input.
    One purpose of the employee input program is to establish 
opportunities for DHS-CS employees to raise, and have addressed, 
employment-related concerns without formal litigation. The program, 
however, does not replace opportunities for redress with relevant third 
parties, mentioned previously. CTMS policy implementing the employee 
input program will describe how the program interacts with these other 
third-party redress avenues.
    Another purpose of the employee input program is to provide a 
process for DHS-CS employees to provide feedback on CTMS and the DHS-
CS. This feedback will help the CTMB evaluate whether the CTMS is 
fulfilling the purpose of its design to recruit and retain individuals 
with the qualifications necessary to execute the DHS cybersecurity 
mission. As discussed previously, CTMS has several interrelated 
elements that function together. Feedback from DHS-CS employees is 
critical, and the employee input program provides an opportunity for 
DHS-CS employees to be heard and share their thoughts about the 
operation of CTMS, including hiring, compensation, and development 
practices that could be improved. The CTMB may use information from the 
employee input program for its periodic review of CTMS administration 
and operation.
2. Subpart J--Advisory Appointments
    Subpart J, Advisory Appointments, addresses political appointees 
under CTMS who serve in advisory appointments. An advisory appointment 
is an appointment to a qualified position that: The Secretary 
determines is of a policy-determining, policy-making, or policy 
advocating character or involves a close or confidential working 
relationship with the Secretary or other key appointed officials; does 
not have a salary set by statute; and is not required to be filled by 
an appointment by the President. See Sec.  158.1001. DHS-CS advisory 
appointees are treated similar to other political appointees except 
regarding appointment and compensation. See Sec. Sec.  158.1001-
158.1003. DHS-CS advisory appointees are appointed to a qualified 
position through an advisory appointment, instead of a Schedule C 
position or non-career SES position. Compensation for DHS-CS advisory 
appointees are set under the CTMS compensation system, instead of under 
the GS, the SES, or other Federal pay system.
    An advisory appointment may not be used for an appointment for 
which salary is set by statute; DHS sets salaries for all advisory 
appointees under the CTMS compensation system. DHS leadership positions 
that are established in statute and have a salary in the Executive 
Schedule set by statute are not covered by advisory appointments. DHS 
positions required to be filled by appointment by the President also 
are not covered by advisory appointments.
    To treat advisory appointees like other political appointees for 
talent management purposes other than appointment and compensation, an 
advisory appointment is treated as an appointment to a Schedule C 
position under 5 CFR 213.3301. See Sec.  158.1001. The provisions of 
OPM regulations governing talent management for Schedule C positions 
apply to advisory appointments, except appointment and compensation is 
governed by subpart J. DHS also tracks and coordinates advisory 
appointments with the Executive Office of the President and OPM, as is 
done with other political appointments. Employment restrictions that 
apply to other political appointees also apply to advisory appointees 
as if the advisory appointee was in a Schedule C position. For example, 
Executive Order 13989 requiring an ethics pledge from political 
appointees will apply to advisory appointees.
    Appointment to an advisory appointment includes the individual 
participating in the CTMS assessment

[[Page 47888]]

program. See Sec.  158.1002. As discussed previously in this document, 
DHS determines individuals' qualifications under the CTMS assessment 
program, and CTMS qualifications are organized into broad categories 
defined primarily in terms of capabilities, such as general 
professional capabilities, cybersecurity technical capabilities, and 
leadership capabilities. DHS anticipates that the assessment processes 
for advisory appointments address all such categories, with a focus on 
both the technical and policy advisory roles of advisory appointees.
    The Secretary or designee must approve the appointment of an 
individual to an advisory appointment by name, and all advisory 
appointees serve at the will of the Secretary. See Sec.  158.1002. Like 
other political appointments, an advisory appointment terminates no 
later than the end of the term of the U.S. President under which the 
advisory appointee was appointed, and a DHS-CS advisory appointee may 
be removed at any time. The provisions of 5 U.S.C. Chapter 75 regarding 
adverse actions do not apply to talent management actions taken under 
this part for a DHS-CS advisory appointee because of the confidential, 
policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character of an 
advisory appointment.
    Advisory appointments to qualified positions are limited and capped 
at a total number established by the Secretary or the Secretary's 
designee under Sec.  158.1002. This cap reflects that noncareer 
appointments to SES positions are generally limited to 25 percent of 
the agency's number of total SES positions, and Schedule C positions 
are limited in total number under OPM direction.\190\ Like Schedule C 
positions under 5 CFR 213.3301, DHS may not use an advisory appointment 
solely or primarily for the purpose of detailing any individual to the 
White House. See Sec.  158.1002.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \190\ Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, 
U.S. Senate (114th Congress, 2d Session), Policy and Supporting 
Positions (Dec. 1, 2016), Appendices 2 and 4, available at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-PLUMBOOK-2016/pdf/GPO-PLUMBOOK-2016.pdf (last visited May 25, 2021).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Once appointed, an advisory appointee in the DHS-CS is treated like 
other political appointees for all talent management purposes, except 
compensation. Like other DHS-CS employees, an advisory appointee 
receives a salary under the CTMS salary system, unless the appointee is 
providing uncompensated service. See Sec.  158.1003. An advisory 
appointee may receive a salary in the standard range only because, as 
discussed previously, DHS uses the extended range for limited 
circumstances only. Like other political appointees, compensation for 
an advisory appointee is subject to guidance from the Administration on 
compensation for political appointees.
    Like political appointees in Schedule C positions who may receive a 
promotion and GS grade increase, and political appointees in non-career 
SES positions who may receive a performance-based pay adjustment, an 
advisory appointee may receive salary adjustments in the form of 
recognition adjustments. Like a political appointee in a Schedule C 
position who may receive locality pay under the GS, an advisory 
appointee may receive a local cybersecurity talent market supplement. 
Like other DHS-CS employees, DHS administers salary and other 
compensation, including leave, for an advisory appointee based on 
consideration of the advisory appointee's work schedule under the CTMS 
work scheduling system. DHS also may convert an advisory appointee's 
salary into an hourly, biweekly, or other rate as necessary to ensure 
accurate operation of existing pay administration procedures and 
infrastructure, as mentioned previously.
    An advisory appointee, unless providing uncompensated service, may 
also receive CTMS additional compensation, but only as provided in 
subpart J. Like other DHS-CS employees, additional compensation for 
advisory appointees is subject to and may be limited by the CTMS 
aggregate compensation cap. Additional compensation for advisory 
appointees is also subject to and may be limited by prohibitions, 
guidance, and other provision of law governing awards to political 
appointees, including 5 U.S.C. 4508 prohibiting awards to political 
appointees during a Presidential election period, and other 
restrictions and requirements in CTMS policy. Restrictions on 
additional compensation for advisory appointees aligns with general 
restrictions on certain types of compensation for political appointees 
across the Federal government, such as OPM guidance to agencies 
restricting discretionary awards, bonuses, and similar payments for 
Federal employees serving under political appointments.\191\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \191\ See e.g., U.S. Office of Personnel Management, CPM 2010-
14, ``Guidance on Freeze on Discretionary Awards, Bonuses, and 
Similar Payment for Federal Employees Serving under Political 
Appointments'' (Aug. 2010), available at https://chcoc.gov/content/guidance-freeze-discretionary-awards-bonuses-and-similar-payments-federal-employees-serving (last visited May 25, 2021); U.S. Office 
of Personnel Management, C-19-24, ``Guidance on Awards for Employees 
and Agency Workforce Fund Plan'' (July 2019) available at https://chcoc.gov/content/guidance-awards-employees-and-agency-workforce-fund-plan (last visited May 25, 2021).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Like other types of political appointees who may receive monetary 
and other awards, advisory appointees may receive CTMS recognition 
payments, CTMS recognition time-off, and CTMS honorary recognition, 
subject to prohibitions, guidance, and other provision of law governing 
compensation for political appointees. An individual being appointed to 
an advisory appointment, however, may not receive any recognition as 
part of an offer of employment because other political appointees are 
prohibited from receiving recruitment incentives.\192\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \192\ See 5 CFR 575.104.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    An advisory appointee may receive CTMS professional development and 
training; however, unlike other DHS-CS employees, an advisory appointee 
may not receive any payment or reimbursement for costs of academic 
degree training or expenses to obtain professional credentials, 
including examinations to obtain such credentials. As discussed 
previously, CTMS professional development and training is based, in 
part, on payment of expenses to obtain professional credentials under 5 
U.S.C. 5757, which prohibits such payments for any employee occupying 
or seeking to qualify for appointment to any position that is excepted 
from the competitive service because of the confidential, policy-
determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character of the 
position. Similarly, an advisory appointee is ineligible for CTMS 
student loan repayments, which as discussed previously are based on 
student loan repayment provisions of Title 5, and political appointees 
are ineligible to receive Title 5 student loan repayments.\193\
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    \193\ See 5 CFR 537.104(b).
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    Like other political appointees in non-career SES positions and 
Schedule C positions, advisory appointees may receive types of 
compensation, including leave and benefits, authorized under CTMS and 
provided in accordance with provisions of Title 5. An advisory 
appointee, however, may not receive a CTMS special working conditions 
payment under a special working conditions payment program because of 
the nature of an advisory appointment: A political appointment, 
especially one with a close and confidential working relationship with 
the Secretary or other key appointed officials, involves different 
expectations about working conditions than the

[[Page 47889]]

appointment of other DHS-CS employees.
    An advisory appointee may receive CTMS allowances in nonforeign 
areas under 5 U.S.C. 5941 like other DHS-CS employees because under 6 
U.S.C. 658(b)(3)(B) mandates that all employees in qualified positions 
``shall be eligible'' for such allowances on the same basis and to the 
same extent as if the employee in the qualified positions was covered 
by 5 U.S.C. 5941. A CTMS allowance in nonforeign areas for an advisory 
appointee, however, is subject to prohibitions, guidance, and other 
provision of law governing compensation for political appointees.

V. Appendix: Reference Materials

    The following are the most relevant reference materials reviewed by 
a specialized DHS team as part of designing CTMS to solve DHS's 
historical and ongoing challenges recruiting and retaining 
cybersecurity talent:

 William Crumpler & James A. Lewis, The Cybersecurity 
Workforce Gap, Center for Strategic & International Studies, (Jan. 
2019) available at https://www.csis.org/analysis/cybersecurity-workforce-gap (last visited May 25, 2021).
 Peter F. Drucker, Knowledge Worker Productivity: The 
Biggest Challenge, 41 California Management Review 79 (Winter 1999).
 Robert L. Heneman, Ph.D., Work Evaluation: Strategic Issues 
and Alternative Methods, prepared for the U.S. Office of Personnel 
Management, FR-00-20 (July 2000, Revised Feb. 2002).
 Homeland Security Advisory Council, U.S. Department of 
Homeland Security, CyberSkills Task Force Report (Fall 2012).
 Joseph W. Howe, History of the General Schedule 
Classification System, prepared for the U.S. Office of Personnel 
Management, FR-02-25 (Mar. 2002).
 (ISC)\2\,
[cir] Hiring and Retaining Top Cybersecurity Talent: What Employers 
Need to Know About Cybersecurity Jobseekers (2018), available at 
https://www.isc2.org/Research/Hiring-Top-Cybersecurity-Talent (last 
visited May 25, 2021).
[cir] Strategies for Building and Growing Strong Cybersecurity 
Teams, (ISC)\2\ Cybersecurity Workforce Study (2019), available at 
https://www.isc2.org/Research/2019-Cybersecurity-Workforce-Study 
(last visited May 25, 2021).
 Martin C. Libicki et al, H4CKER5 WANTED: An 
Examination of the Cybersecurity Labor Market, National Security 
Research Division, RAND Corporation (2014) available at https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR400/RR430/RAND_RR430.pdf (last visited May 25, 2021).
 Bernard Marr, The Future of Work: 5 Important Ways Jobs 
Will Change the 4th Industrial Revolution, Forbes, July 15, 2019, 
available at https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2019/07/15/the-future-of-work-5-important-ways-jobs-will-change-in-the-4th-industrial-revolution/#3ffd62b754c7 (last visited May 25, 2021).
 Susan Milligan, HR 2025: 7 Critical Strategies to Prepare 
for the Future of HR, HR Magazine, Oct. 29, 2018 available at 
https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/1118/Pages/7-critical-strategies-to-prepare-for-the-future-of-hr.aspx (last 
visited May 25, 2021).
 National Academy of Public Administration,
[cir] Revitalizing Federal Management: Managers and Their 
Overburdened Systems (Nov. 1983).
[cir] Modernizing Federal Classification: An Opportunity for 
Excellence (July 1991).
[cir] The Transforming Power of Information Technology: Making the 
Federal Government an Employer of Choice for IT Employees, Summary 
Report (Aug. 2001).
[cir] Recommending Performance-Based Federal Pay. A Report by the 
Human Resources Management Panel (May 2004).
[cir] Transforming the Public Service: Progress Made and the Work 
Ahead (Dec. 2004).
[cir] Building a 21st Century Senior Executive Service (Mar. 2017).
[cir] No Time to Wait: Building a Public Service for the 21st 
Century (July 2017).
[cir] No Time to Wait, Part 2: Building a Public Service for the 
21st Century (Sep. 2018).
 National Commission on Military, National, and Public 
Service, Inspired to Serve, (Mar. 2020).
 National Research Council, Professionalizing the Nation's 
Cybersecurity Workforce?: Criteria for Decision-Making, The National 
Academies Press (2013) available at https://doi.org/10.17226/18446 
(last visited May 25, 2021).
 Partnership for Public Service,
[cir] Cyber In-Security: Strengthening the Federal Cybersecurity 
Workforce (July 2009).
[cir] Cyber In-Security II: Closing the Federal Talent Gap (Apr. 
2015).
 Emil Sayegh, As the End of 2020 Approaches, The 
Cybersecurity Talent Drought Gets Worse, Forbes, Sep. 22, 2020, 
available at https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilsayegh/2020/09/22/as-the-end-of-2020-approaches-the-cybersecurity-talent-drought-gets-worse/?sh=104825545f86 (last visited May 25, 2021).
 Society for Human Resource Management, The New Talent 
Landscape: Recruiting Difficulty and Skills Shortages (June 2016), 
available at https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/trends-and-forecasting/research-and-surveys/Pages/Talent-Landscape.aspx (last visited May 
25, 2021).
 Harry J. Thie et al, Future Career Management Systems for 
U.S. Military Officers, Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, MR-470-
OSD, prepared for the Office of the Secretary of Defense (1994) 
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(last visited May 25, 2021).
 U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission,
[cir] U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission Report (Mar. 2020).
[cir] Growing a Stronger Federal Cyber Workforce, CSC White Paper #3 
(Sep. 2020).
 U.S. Department of Homeland Security, DHS Cybersecurity 
Workforce Strategy: Fiscal Years 2019-2023.
 U.S. Government Accountability Office,
[cir] Description of Selected Systems for Classifying Federal 
Civilian Positions and Personnel, GGD-84-90 (July 1984).
[cir] Human Capital: Opportunities to Improve Executive Agencies' 
Hiring Process, GAO-03-450 (May 2003).
[cir] Human Capital: Implementing Pay for Performance at Selected 
Personnel Demonstration Projects, GAO-04-83, (Jan. 2004).
[cir] Human Capital: Federal Workforce Challenges in the 21st 
Century, GAO-07-556T (Mar. 2007).
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and Oversight of the Federal Classification System, GAO-14-677 (July 
2014).
[cir] Federal Workforce: Sustained Attention to Human Capital 
Leading Practices Can Help Improve Agency Performance, GAO-17-627T, 
(May 2017).
[cir] Federal Workforce: Key Talent Management Strategies for 
Agencies to Better Meet Their Missions, GAO-19-181 (Mar. 2019).
[cir] Priority Open Recommendations: Office of Personnel Management, 
GAO-19-322SP (April 2019).
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Agencies Better Compete in a Tight Labor Market, GAO-19-723T (Sep. 
2019).
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[cir] A Fresh Start for Federal Pay: The Case for Modernization, 
(April 2002).
[cir] Alternative Personnel Systems in the Federal Government: A 
Status Report on Demonstration Projects and Other Performance-Based 
Pay Systems, (Dec. 2007).
[cir] Introduction to the Position Classification Standards (2009).
 U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board,
[cir] Attracting the Next Generation: A Look at Federal Entry-Level 
New Hires (Jan. 2008).
[cir] In Search of Highly Skilled Workers: A Study on the Hiring of 
Upper Level Employees From Outside the Federal Government (Feb. 
2008).
[cir] Job Simulations: Trying Out for a Federal Job (Sep. 2009).
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Cybersecurity Agenda for the 45th President, Report of the CSIS 
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Studies (Jan. 2017), available at https://www.csis.org/analysis/awareness-action (last visited May 25, 2021).

[[Page 47890]]

VI. Public Participation and Request for Comments

Interested persons are invited to participate in this rulemaking by 
submitting written comments on this interim final rule. Comments that 
will provide the most assistance to DHS will reference a specific 
portion of the interim final rule, explain the reason for any 
suggestion or recommended change, and include data, information, or 
authority that supports such suggestion or recommended change. DHS will 
review all comments received on this interim final rule, but may choose 
not to post off-topic, inappropriate, or duplicative comments. To 
submit a comment:
 Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions 
for submitting comments for docket number DHS-2020-0042. If your 
material cannot be submitted using http://www.regulations.gov, contact 
the persons listed in the For Further Information Contact section of 
this document for alternative instructions.
 All submissions received must include the agency name and 
docket number for this rulemaking.
 Comments posted to http://www.regulations.gov are posted 
without change and will include any personal information provided. For 
more information about privacy and submissions in response to this 
document, see DHS's eRulemaking System of Records notice (85 FR 14226, 
March 11, 2020).

VII. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

    DHS developed this rule after considering numerous statutes and 
Executive Orders (E.O.s) related to rulemaking. Below is a summary of 
the analysis based on these statutes or E.O.s.

A. Executive Orders 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) and 13563 
(Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review)

    Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess 
the costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). Executive 
Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting 
flexibility. This rule is one of agency management and personnel. While 
such rules are not considered rules subject to review by OMB under E.O. 
12866,\194\ OMB has reviewed it consistent with the principles of that 
Order. This rule does not impose costs or burdens on the private 
sector. The additional government expense to operate and maintain CTMS 
in the future is projected to be $12 to $17 million, annually.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \194\ E.O. 12866, sec. 3(d) (excluding from the definition of 
``regulation'' or ``rule'' subject to the E.O. requirements, 
``regulations or rules that are limited to agency organization, 
management, or personnel matters'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    An assessment of potential costs and benefits follows.
1. Background and Purpose
    CTMS is a new mission-driven, person-focused, and market-sensitive 
approach to talent management featuring several interrelated elements. 
Each of the CTMS elements (strategic talent planning process, talent 
acquisition system, compensation system, deployment program, 
performance management program, and career development program) 
represent a shift from the talent management methods and practices 
Federal agencies traditionally use to manage Federal civil service 
talent. CTMS is designed to recruit and retain individuals with the 
skills, called qualifications, necessary to execute the DHS 
cybersecurity mission. CTMS is also designed to adapt to changes in 
cybersecurity work, the cybersecurity talent market, and the DHS 
cybersecurity mission over time. With CTMS, DHS is creating a new type 
of Federal civilian position, called a qualified position, and the 
cadre of those positions and the individuals appointed to them is 
called the DHS-CS. DHS organizations will use CTMS when they need to 
recruit and retain talent with CTMS qualifications and DHS determines 
the recruitment and retention of such talent would be enhanced by 
specialized CTMS practices for hiring, compensation, and development.
    The DHS organizations using CTMS will provide for the compensation 
of new DHS-CS employees they hire, and OCHCO, which contains the 
specialized team responsible for designing CTMS, will assist those DHS 
organizations as they hire, compensate, and develop those new DHS-CS 
employees. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) 
and the DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer (DHS OCIO) will be 
the first to use CTMS and hire new DHS-CS employees. In early FY 2022, 
CISA and DHS OCIO plan to use CTMS for approximately 150 priority 
hires.
2. CTMS Costs: Designing, Establishing, and Administering CTMS
    To design CTMS and prepare for its establishment and 
administration, OCHCO needed the talent management infrastructure 
necessary to conceive of and plan for DHS to use a new approach to 
Federal civilian talent management. Most importantly, OCHCO needed 
individuals with a variety of highly specialized talent management 
expertise in areas ranging from industrial and organizational (I/O) 
psychology and compensation design to Federal talent management policy 
and employment law. Such expertise was necessary to design each of the 
interrelated elements of CTMS as well as prepare for their respective 
administration. All CTMS elements, especially those reflecting the 
greatest shifts from existing Federal talent management methods and 
practices, required effort to envision, including a variety of research 
and planning activities to translate ideas into specialized hiring, 
compensation, and development practices DHS could begin to use. This 
preparation required DHS to review existing talent management business 
processes in use across DHS organizations and formulate adjustments to 
ensure the effective administration of CTMS and its elements. Notable 
adjustments involved reviewing approval and recordkeeping procedures 
for talent management actions as well as operation of existing 
information technology support systems, such as the DHS personnel and 
payroll system.
    In fiscal year (FY) 2016, Congress began providing OCHCO with 
funding to design and establish CTMS. The table below summarizes the 
funding Congress provided OCHCO for CTMS from FY 2016 through FY 2021; 
it also outlines how OCHCO used the funding to design and prepare to 
administer each CTMS element.

[[Page 47891]]



                                                                  Table 3--Funding OCHCO Received for CTMS From FY 2016-FY 2021
                                                                                          [$ millions]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Strategic talent planning process
                                                                ----------------------------------------     Talent                                   Performance     Career
                                                                  Identification    Talent      Work       acquisition    Compensation    Deployment   management  development   Total   % Total
                                                                   of work and      market    valuation      system          system        program      program      program     by FY    by FY
                                                                  qualifications   analysis    system
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2016........................................................             0.85       0.16        0.26            0.37             0.3          0.2         0.23          0.2     2.57        5
FY 2017........................................................             0.99        0.2        0.31            0.47            0.36         0.26         0.37         0.37     3.34        7
FY 2018........................................................             1.58       0.76        0.91            6.21             0.9         0.68         0.91         0.55     12.5       25
FY 2019........................................................             0.99       0.43        0.87            1.37            0.79         0.53         0.62         0.46     6.07       12
FY 2020........................................................             0.98       0.31        0.55             5.5            0.76         1.41         1.25         0.81    11.58       23
FY 2021........................................................             0.91       0.72        0.41            4.59            1.97         1.86         1.91         1.13    13.49       27
                                                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total by Element...........................................             6.31       2.59        3.31           18.51            5.08         4.94         5.29         3.52    49.55      100
                                                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    % Total by Element.........................................               13          5           7              37              10           10           11            7      100  .......
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As shown in Table 3, OCHCO used approximately 37 percent of the 
funding received from FY 2016 through FY 2021 for the talent 
acquisition system, which required extensive industrial and 
organizational (I/O) psychology research to develop, validate, and test 
assessment processes, including simulations of DHS-CS cybersecurity 
work intended to test CTMS qualifications. OCHCO also used a total of 
approximately 25 percent of the FY 2016 through FY 2021 funding on 
parts of the strategic talent planning process, each of which are 
critical to the administration of several CTMS elements. Each of the 
remaining elements was associated with less than 11 percent of the 
funding received from FY 2016 through FY 2021.
    For FY 2022, DHS has requested a budget increase of approximately 
$2.3 million above FY 2021 funding to cover expected enhancements to 
the talent acquisition and compensation systems. Additional spending, 
to be split evenly between these two elements, is intended to ensure 
that DHS can effectively use CTMS to source and assess more applicants, 
hire more DHS-CS employees, and monitor and adjust the compensation of 
those employees. Currently, DHS is planning with DHS organizations for 
a second phase of hiring to begin in FY 2022 and to include at least 
350 new DHS-CS employees.
    Notably, OCHCO used 74 percent and 26 percent of the FY 2016 
through FY 2021 funding on contract support and OCHCO Federal team 
salaries and benefits, respectively. Much of the design of CTMS and its 
elements required temporary, start-up expertise, which was most 
efficiently secured via contract. In FY 2022, DHS anticipates initial 
start-up investments required to establish CTMS will be complete. DHS 
anticipates annual costs of operating CTMS in future years to range 
from approximately $12 million to $17 million, depending on the number 
of DHS organizations using CTMS, the growth of the population of DHS-CS 
employees, and the magnitude of adjustments to CTMS required as a 
result of changes in the cybersecurity talent market and the DHS 
cybersecurity mission. Simultaneously, DHS expects a larger proportion 
of annual CTMS administration costs to be dedicated to the salaries and 
benefits of Federal employees responsible for administering CTMS and 
supporting both DHS organizations using CTMS and the DHS-CS employees 
hired by them.

3. CTMS & DHS-CS Costs: Compensating and Retaining DHS-CS Employees

    The costs of compensating DHS-CS employees with salaries and 
additional compensation are not accounted for in the funding OCHCO has 
received for CTMS. DHS organizations will cover the costs of 
compensating DHS-CS employees and any related expenses incurred after 
the selection of those employees. Costs for compensating DHS-CS 
employees will be constrained by the amount budgeted for DHS's 
compensation expenditures, as is the case for existing Federal civilian 
employees in positions established and managed under other existing 
Federal personnel systems.
    OCHCO will work closely with DHS organizations to establish 
qualified positions in the DHS-CS and support the hiring, compensation, 
and development their DHS-CS employees. In addition, DHS organizations 
will commit to funding new qualified positions and DHS-CS employees 
prior to hiring. Such funding commitments will be based on hiring 
plans, including cost estimates, established by DHS organizations with 
assistance from OCHCO. In planning for the cost of qualified positions 
and DHS-CS employees, DHS will use a consistent cost estimating 
methodology, much like DHS uses to describe and estimate employee costs 
under other existing Federal personnel systems. In alignment with the 
new CTMS compensation system, the new cost estimating methodology will 
account for four new cost factors: Salary, salary adjustments (called 
recognition adjustments), cash bonuses (called recognition payments), 
and training.
    Under CTMS, DHS sets salaries based on assessment of an 
individual's CTMS qualifications. Salaries for DHS-CS employees may 
include a local cybersecurity talent market supplement, intended to 
account for differences in the cost of talent in specific local 
cybersecurity talent markets, which are geographic areas defined by 
DHS. Salary adjustments under CTMS are based primarily on a DHS-CS 
employee's mission impact, and DHS makes such adjustments based on an 
understanding of current compensation practices in the broader 
cybersecurity talent market, including the salary rates of other 
employers.
    CTMS additional compensation includes recognition payments based 
primarily on DHS-CS employees' mission impact, and DHS also provides 
such payments based on an understanding of current compensation 
practices in the broader cybersecurity talent market. Under CTMS, 
continuous learning is a critical aspect of DHS-CS employees' career 
progression, so the new cost estimating methodology includes training 
costs to ensure DHS organizations have requisite funding allocated to 
invest in the development of their DHS-CS employees. Remaining position 
costs, such as benefits, General Services Administration rent, and 
equipment, have been incorporated into the cost estimating methodology 
based on established rates DHS uses to estimate employee costs under 
other existing Federal personnel systems.

[[Page 47892]]

    This rulemaking may have future distributional effects on the DHS 
budget regarding funding for positions and employees. At the launch of 
CTMS, a DHS organization establishing a new qualified position in the 
DHS-CS will cover the cost of that qualified position using existing 
funding. DHS organizations will need to review available funding and 
position vacancies when creating qualified positions in the DHS-CS to 
account for cost differences between qualified positions and positions 
previously defined using other Federal personnel systems. Because CTMS 
reflects shifts from existing talent management practices and methods, 
including those for compensation, DHS anticipates that the costs of 
qualified positions will vary from the costs a DHS organization 
previously projected for vacant positions based on the talent 
management practices of other existing personnel systems. These cost 
differences may require DHS organizations to adjust strategies for 
filling vacancies. In some cases, certain vacancies may need to remain 
unfilled to ensure sufficient funding for one or more DHS-CS qualified 
positions reflecting higher total costs than previously estimated. In 
other cases, a DHS organization may realize cost savings as it is able 
to hire highly-skilled DHS-CS employees with lower compensation and 
total costs than the organization previously projected using other 
existing Federal personnel systems. For example, a DHS organization 
might have planned to hire an experienced cybersecurity expert given 
previous recruiting challenges, but with CTMS, the organization may be 
able to hire, competitively compensate, and quickly develop a DHS-CS 
employee just beginning a career in cybersecurity.
4. CTMS & DHS-CS Benefits: Enhancing the Cybersecurity of the Nation
    Cybersecurity is a matter of homeland security and one of the core 
missions of DHS. For more than a decade, DHS has encountered challenges 
recruiting and retaining mission-critical cybersecurity talent. During 
that time, as cybersecurity threats facing the Nation have grown in 
volume and sophistication, DHS has experienced spikes in attrition and 
longstanding vacancies in some cybersecurity positions. To address the 
DHS's ongoing challenges recruiting and retaining cybersecurity talent, 
DHS is establishing CTMS under the authority in 6 U.S.C. 658.
    The main benefit of this rulemaking is enhancing the Nation's 
cybersecurity by enhancing DHS's capacity to recruit and retain top 
cybersecurity talent to execute the DHS cybersecurity mission. The DHS-
CS employees hired, compensated, and developed using CTMS are expected 
to impact execution of the DHS cybersecurity mission, including by 
applying their CTMS qualifications to successfully and proficiently 
perform DHS-CS cybersecurity work. Given the ever-evolving nature of 
cybersecurity threats and risks, future costs of CTMS and the DHS-CS 
cannot be projected with certainty, and similarly, the benefits of CTMS 
and the DHS-CS cannot be estimated with certainty. While difficult for 
DHS to quantify in advance, the cybersecurity work performed by DHS-CS 
employees is anticipated to result in efficiencies in DHS cybersecurity 
mission execution. In the course of DHS-CS employees performing their 
work, DHS also anticipates that they will make contributions to 
cybersecurity technologies, techniques, tactics, or procedures, which 
will benefit both DHS and the Nation more broadly.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et. seq.), as amended 
by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement and Fairness Act of 1996, 
requires an agency to prepare and make available to the public a 
regulatory flexibility analysis that describes the effect of a proposed 
rule on small entities (i.e., small businesses, small organizations, 
and small governmental jurisdictions) when the agency is required to 
publish a general notice of proposed rulemaking for a rule. Since a 
general notice of proposed rulemaking is not necessary for this rule, 
DHS is not required to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis for 
this rule.

C. Congressional Review Act

    This rule is not covered by the Congressional Review Act (CRA), 
codified at 5 U.S.C. 801-808, because it is excluded from the 
definition of a ``rule'' under that Act. Under the CRA, certain rules 
are subject to requirements concerning congressional review of those 
rules. A ``rule'' for purposes of the CRA, however, does not include 
``any rule relating to agency management or personnel.'' 5 U.S.C. 
804(3)(B). As discussed in II. Basis and Purpose, this rule 
implementing a new talent management system for a subset of DHS's 
cybersecurity workforce is a matter relating to agency management or 
personnel. As such, this rule is excluded from the definition of 
``rule'' under the CRA and is thus not subject to the CRA's 
requirements.

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, 
requires each Federal agency to prepare a written statement assessing 
the effects of any Federal mandate in a proposed or final agency rule 
that may result in a $100 million or more expenditure (adjusted 
annually for inflation) in any one year by State, local, and Tribal 
governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector. Because this 
rule does not impose any Federal mandates on State, local, or Tribal 
governments, in the aggregate, or the private sector, and because this 
rule is exempt from written statement requirements under 2 U.S.C. 
1532(a), this rule does not contain such a written statement.

E. E.O. 13132 (Federalism)

    A rule has implications for federalism under E.O. 13132 if it has a 
substantial direct effect on States, on the relationship between the 
national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Because this 
rule implements a new talent management system and only addresses DHS 
personnel matters, DHS determined in accordance with E.O. 13132 that 
this rule does not have federalism implications warranting the 
preparation of a federalism summary impact statement.

F. E.O. 12988 (Civil Justice Reform)

    This rule meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) 
of E.O. 12988 to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce 
burden.

G. E.O. 13175 (Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal 
Governments)

    This rule does not have tribal implications under E.O. 13175, 
because it would not have a substantial direct effect on one or more 
Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and 
Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities 
between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.

H. National Environmental Policy Act

    DHS analyzed this rule under Department of Homeland Security 
Management Directive 023-01 Rev. 01 and Instruction Manual 023-01-001-
01 Rev. 01 (Instruction Manual), which establishes the procedures DHS 
uses to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., and the Council on Environmental 
Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing NEPA

[[Page 47893]]

codified at 40 CFR parts 1500-1508. The CEQ regulations allow Federal 
agencies to establish categories of actions (``categorical 
exclusions'') which experience has shown do not individually or 
cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment and, 
therefore, do not require an Environmental Assessment or Environmental 
Impact Statement. 40 CFR 1507.3(e)(2)(ii), 1501.4. Categorical 
exclusions established by DHS are set forth in Appendix A of the 
Instruction Manual. For an action to be categorically excluded, it must 
satisfy each of the following three conditions: (1) The entire action 
clearly fits within one or more of the categorical exclusions; (2) the 
action is not a piece of a larger action; and (3) no extraordinary 
circumstances exist that create the potential for a significant 
environmental effect. Instruction Manual section V.B(2)(a)-(c). 
Instruction Manual section V.B(2)(a)-(c).
    This rule implements a new talent management system with 
specialized practices for hiring, compensating, and developing 
cybersecurity talent to support the Department's cybersecurity mission. 
Because this rule is limited to agency management and personnel 
matters, it clearly falls within the scope of DHS categorical 
exclusions A1 (Personnel, fiscal, management, and administrative 
activities, such as recruiting, processing, paying, recordkeeping, 
resource management, budgeting, personnel actions, and travel) and 
A3(a) (Promulgation of rules of a strictly administrative or procedural 
nature), set forth in Appendix A of the Instruction Manual. This rule 
also is not part of a larger action and presents no extraordinary 
circumstances creating the potential for significant environmental 
effects. Therefore, this action is categorically excluded and no 
further NEPA analysis is required.

I. National Technology Transfer and Advance Act

    The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act, codified at 
15 U.S.C. 272 note, directs agencies to use voluntary consensus 
standards in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides 
Congress, through OMB, with an explanation of why using these standards 
would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. 
Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards (e.g., 
specifications of materials, performance, design, or operation; test 
methods; sampling procedures; and related management systems practices) 
that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies. 
This rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, DHS did not 
consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

J. E.O. 12630 (Governmental Actions and Interference With 
Constitutionally Protected Property Rights)

    This rule will not cause a taking of private property or otherwise 
have taking implications under E.O. 12630.

K. E.O. 13045 (Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks 
and Safety Risks)

    Executive Order 13045 requires agencies to consider the impacts of 
environmental health risk or safety risk that may disproportionately 
affect children. DHS has analyzed this rule under E.O. 13045 and 
determined it is not a covered regulatory action. This rule is not an 
economically significant rule and would not create an environmental 
risk to health or risk to safety that might disproportionately affect 
children.

L. E.O. 13211 (Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect 
Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use)

    DHS has analyzed this rule under E.O. 13211 and has determined that 
it is not a ``significant energy action'' under that order because 
although it is a ``significant regulatory action'' under E.O. 12866, it 
is not likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, 
distribution, or use of energy, and the Administrator of OMB's Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs has not designated it as a 
significant energy action.

M. Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule would call for no new collection of information under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. Any collection of 
information under this rule will be under existing collections of 
information concerning Federal hiring and Federal employment.

List of Subjects in 6 CFR Part 158

    Administrative practice and procedure, Employment, Government 
employees, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, and Wages.

0
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, DHS adds 6 CFR part 158 as 
follows:

PART 158--CYBERSECURITY TALENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CTMS)

Subpart A--General Provisions
Sec.
158.101 Purpose.
158.102 Scope of authority.
158.103 Coverage.
158.104 Definitions.
Subpart B--DHS Cybersecurity Service
158.201 Cybersecurity mission.
158.202 DHS Cybersecurity Service (DHS-CS).
158.203 Positions in the DHS-CS.
158.204 Employees in the DHS-CS.
158.205 Assignments in the DHS-CS.
Subpart C--Leadership
158.301 Administering CTMS and Managing the DHS-CS.
158.302 Cybersecurity Talent Management Board (CTMB).
158.303 Talent management principles.
158.304 Strategic talent priorities.
158.305 DHS-CS core values.
Subpart D--Strategic Talent Planning
158.401 Strategic talent planning process.
158.402 DHS-CS cybersecurity work and CTMS qualifications 
identification.
158.403 Talent market analysis.
158.404 Work valuation system.
158.405 Exemption from General Schedule position classification.
Subpart E--Acquiring Talent

Talent Acquisition System

158.501 Talent acquisition system.
158.502 Exemption from other laws regarding appointment.

Sourcing and Recruiting

158.510 Strategic recruitment.
158.511 Outreach and sourcing.
158.512 Interview expenses.

Assessment and Hiring

158.520 Assessment.
158.521 Employment eligibility requirements and employment-related 
criteria.
158.522 Selection and appointment.
158.523 Appointment types and circumstances.
158.524 Initial service period.
158.525 Hiring of former DHS-CS employees.
Subpart F--Compensating Talent

Compensation System

158.601 Compensation strategy.
158.602 Compensation system.
158.603 Employee compensation.
158.604 Aggregate compensation limit.
158.605 Exemption from other laws regarding compensation.

Salaries

158.610 Salary system.
158.611 Salary structure.
158.612 Local cybersecurity talent market supplement.
158.613 Salary range.
158.614 Salary limitations.

Salary Administration

158.620 Setting salaries.
158.621 Adjusting salaries.
158.622 Administering salary in accordance with relevant provisions 
of other laws.

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Recognition

158.630 Employee recognition.
158.631 Recognition adjustments.
158.632 Recognition payments.
158.633 Recognition time-off.
158.634 Honorary recognition.

Other Special Payments

158.640 Professional development and training.
158.641 Student loan repayments.
158.642 Special working conditions payment program.
158.643 Allowance in nonforeign areas.

Other Compensation Provided in Accordance With Relevant Provisions 
of Other Laws

158.650 Holidays.
158.651 Leave.
158.652 Compensatory time-off for religious observance.
158.653 Other benefits.
158.654 Other payments.
158.655 Administering compensation in accordance with relevant 
provisions of other laws.
Subpart G--Deploying Talent
158.701 Deployment program.
158.702 Designating qualified positions.
158.703 Designating and staffing assignments.
158.704 Official worksite.
158.705 Work scheduling.
158.706 Recordkeeping.
158.707 Details and opportunities outside DHS.
185.708 Directed assignments.
158.709 Exemption from other laws regarding deployment.
Subpart H--Developing Talent
158.801 Definitions.
158.802 Performance management program.
158.803 Career development program.
158.804 Appraisal reviews.
158.805 Mission impact reviews.
158.806 Development reviews.
Subpart I--Employee Right, Requirements, and Input
158.901 Federal employee rights and processes.
158.902 Ethics requirements.
158.903 Employee input program.
Subpart J--Advisory Appointments
158.1001 Advisory appointments and advisory appointees.
158.1002 Appointment to advisory appointees.
158.1003 Compensation for advisory appointees.

    Authority : 6 U.S.C. 658.
    Subpart H also issued under 5 U.S.C. Chapters 41 and 43; 5 CFR 
parts 410 and 430.

Subpart A--General Provisions


Sec.  158.101  Purpose.

    (a) Cybersecurity Talent Management System. This part contains 
regulations establishing the Cybersecurity Talent Management System 
(CTMS) and the resulting DHS Cybersecurity Service (DHS-CS). CTMS is 
designed to recruit and retain individuals with the qualifications 
necessary to execute the DHS cybersecurity mission and is also designed 
to adapt to changes in cybersecurity work, the cybersecurity talent 
market, and the DHS cybersecurity mission.
    (b) DHS Cybersecurity Service. Under this part, the Secretary or 
designee establishes and manages the DHS Cybersecurity Service (DHS-CS) 
described in subpart B of this part.
    (c) Regulations & policy. The regulations in this part provide the 
policy framework for establishing and administering CTMS, and 
establishing and managing the DHS-CS. The Secretary or designee 
implements this part through CTMS policy defined in Sec.  158.104.


Sec.  158.102  Scope of authority.

    (a) Authority. This part implements the Secretary's authority in 6 
U.S.C. 658 and governs talent management involving the individuals 
described in Sec.  158.103.
    (b) Other laws superseded. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in 
this part or explicitly provided otherwise by Congress, this part 
supersedes all other provisions of law and policy relating to 
appointment, number, classification, or compensation of employees that 
the Secretary deems are incompatible with the approach to talent 
management under this part. For compensation authorized under this 
part, the Department provides all such compensation under the authority 
in 6 U.S.C. 658, and also provides some types of such compensation in 
accordance with relevant provisions of other laws, including provisions 
in 5 U.S.C. and 5 CFR, to the extent compatible with the approach to 
talent management under this part.
    (c) Preservation of authority. Nothing in this part shall be deemed 
or construed to limit the Secretary's authority in 6 U.S.C. 658.


Sec.  158.103  Coverage.

    (a) Talent management. This part covers:
    (1) Establishing and administering CTMS; and
    (2) Establishing and managing the DHS-CS.
    (b) Individuals. This part applies to any individual:
    (1) Being recruited for employment under this part;
    (2) Applying for employment under this part;
    (3) Serving in a qualified position under this part;
    (4) Managing, or participating in the management of, any DHS-CS 
employee under this part, including as a supervisor or any other 
employee of the Department who has the authority to take, direct others 
to take, recommend, or approve any talent management action under this 
part; or
    (5) Serving on the Cybersecurity Talent Management Board described 
in Sec.  158.302.


Sec.  158.104  Definitions.

    As used in this part:
    Additional compensation means the compensation described in Sec.  
158.603(c).
    Advisory appointment means an appointment to a qualified position 
under subpart J of this part.
    Annuitant has the same meaning as that term in 5 CFR 553.102.
    Anticipated mission impact means the influence the Department 
anticipates an individual will have on execution of the DHS 
cybersecurity mission based on the individual's CTMS qualifications and 
application of those qualifications to successfully and proficiently 
perform DHS-CS cybersecurity work.
    Assignment means a description of a specific subset of DHS-CS 
cybersecurity work and a specific subset of CTMS qualifications 
necessary to perform that work, the combination of which is associable 
with a qualified position.
    Break in service means the time when an employee is no longer on 
the payroll of a Federal agency.
    Continuing appointment means an appointment for an indefinite time 
period to a qualified position.
    CTMS policy means the Department's decisions implementing and 
operationalizing the regulations in this part, and includes directives, 
instructions, and operating guidance and procedures.
    CTMS qualifications means qualifications identified under Sec.  
158.402(c).
    Cybersecurity incident has the same meaning as the term 
``incident'' in 6 U.S.C. 659.
    Cybersecurity risk has the same meaning as that term in 6 U.S.C. 
659.
    Cybersecurity Talent Management Board or CTMB means the group of 
officials described in Sec.  158.302.
    Cybersecurity Talent Management System or CTMS means the approach 
to talent management, which encompasses the definitions, processes, 
systems, and programs, established under this part.
    Cybersecurity talent market means the availability, in terms of 
supply and demand, of talent relating to cybersecurity and employment 
relating to cybersecurity, including at other Federal agencies such as 
the Department of Defense.

[[Page 47895]]

    Cybersecurity threat has the same meaning as that term in 6 U.S.C. 
1501(5).
    Cybersecurity work means activity involving mental or physical 
effort, or both, to achieve results relating to cybersecurity.
    Department or DHS means the Department of Homeland Security.
    DHS cybersecurity mission means the cybersecurity mission described 
in Sec.  158.201. As stated in that section, the DHS cybersecurity 
mission encompasses all responsibilities of the Department relating to 
cybersecurity.
    DHS Cybersecurity Service or DHS-CS means the qualified positions 
designated and established under this part and the employees appointed 
to those positions under this part.
    DHS-CS advisory appointee means a DHS-CS employee serving in an 
advisory appointment under this part.
    DHS-CS cybersecurity work means cybersecurity work identified under 
Sec.  158.402(b).
    DHS-CS employee means an employee serving in a qualified position 
under this part.
    Employee has the same meaning as that term in 5 U.S.C. 2105.
    Excepted service has the same meaning as that term in 5 U.S.C. 
2103.
    Executive Schedule means the pay levels described in 5 U.S.C. 5311.
    Former DHS-CS employee means an individual who previously served, 
but is not currently serving, in a qualified position.
    Functions has the same meaning as that term in 6 U.S.C. 101(9).
    Mission impact means a DHS-CS employee's influence on execution of 
the DHS cybersecurity mission by applying the employee's CTMS 
qualifications to successfully and proficiently perform DHS-CS 
cybersecurity work.
    Mission-related requirements means characteristics of an 
individual's expertise or characteristics of cybersecurity work, or 
both (including cybersecurity talent market-related information), that 
are associated with successful execution of the DHS cybersecurity 
mission, and that are determined by officials with appropriate 
decision-making authority.
    Preference eligible has the same meaning as that term in 5 U.S.C. 
2108.
    Qualification means a quality of an individual that correlates with 
the successful and proficient performance of cybersecurity work, such 
as capability, experience and training, and education and 
certification. A capability is a cluster of interrelated attributes 
that is measurable or observable or both. Interrelated attributes 
include knowledge, skills, abilities, behaviors, and other 
characteristics.
    Qualified position means CTMS qualifications and DHS-CS 
cybersecurity work, the combination of which is associable with an 
employee.
    Renewable appointment means a time-limited appointment to a 
qualified position.
    Salary means an annual rate of pay under this part and is basic pay 
for purposes under 5 U.S.C. and 5 CFR. The salary for a DHS-CS employee 
is described in Sec.  158.603.
    Secretary means the Secretary of Homeland Security.
    Secretary or designee means the Secretary or an official or group 
of officials authorized to act for the Secretary in the matter 
concerned.
    Strategic talent priorities means the priorities for CTMS and the 
DHS-CS set under Sec.  158.304.
    Supervisor means an employee of the Department who has authority to 
hire, direct, assign, promote, reward, transfer, furlough, layoff, 
recall, suspend, discipline, or remove employees, or to effectively 
recommend such actions. A supervisor for a DHS-CS employee may be a 
DHS-CS employee or may be an employee of the Department serving in a 
position outside the DHS-CS.
    Talent management means a systematic approach to linking employees 
to mission and organizational goals through intentional strategies and 
practices for hiring, compensating, and developing employees.
    Talent management action has the same meaning as the term personnel 
action in 5 U.S.C. 2302(a)(2) for applicable actions, and the terms 
talent management action and personnel action may be used 
interchangeably in this part.
    Veteran has the same meaning as that term in 5 U.S.C. 2108.
    Work level means a grouping of CTMS qualifications and DHS-CS 
cybersecurity work with sufficiently similar characteristics to warrant 
similar treatment in talent management under this part.
    Work valuation means a methodology through which an organization 
defines and evaluates the value of work and the value of individuals 
capable of performing that work.

Subpart B--DHS Cybersecurity Service


Sec.  158.201  Cybersecurity mission.

    Cybersecurity is a matter of homeland security and one of the core 
missions of the Department. Congress and the President charge the 
Department with responsibilities relating to cybersecurity and grant 
the Secretary and other officials authorities to carry out those 
cybersecurity responsibilities. The Department's cybersecurity mission 
is dynamic to keep pace with the evolving cybersecurity risks and 
cybersecurity threats facing the Nation and to adapt to any changes in 
the Department's cybersecurity responsibilities. The DHS cybersecurity 
mission encompasses all responsibilities of the Department relating to 
cybersecurity.


Sec.  158.202 DHS  Cybersecurity Service (DHS-CS).

    The Secretary or designee establishes and manages the DHS-CS to 
enhance the cybersecurity of the Nation through the most effective 
execution of the DHS cybersecurity mission.


Sec.  158.203  Positions in the DHS-CS.

    (a) Qualified positions. The Secretary or designee designates and 
establishes qualified positions in the excepted service as the 
Secretary or designee determines necessary for the most effective 
execution of the DHS cybersecurity mission.
    (b) Designating qualified positions. The Secretary or designee 
designates qualified positions under the deployment program, described 
in Sec.  158.701, as part of determining when the Department uses CTMS 
to recruit and retain individuals possessing CTMS qualifications.
    (c) Establishing qualified positions. The Secretary or designee 
establishes a qualified position under the talent acquisition system, 
described in Sec.  158.501 of this part, by the appointment of an 
individual to a qualified position previously designated.


Sec.  158.204  Employees in the DHS-CS.

    (a) DHS-CS employees. DHS-CS employees serve in the excepted 
service, and the Department hires, compensates, and develops DHS-CS 
employees using CTMS.
    (b) Mission execution and assignments. DHS-CS employees execute the 
DHS cybersecurity mission by applying their CTMS qualifications to 
perform the DHS-CS cybersecurity work of their assignments.
    (c) Mission impact and recognition. Application of a DHS-CS 
employee's CTMS qualifications to successfully and proficiently perform 
DHS-CS cybersecurity work results in mission impact attributable to 
that employee. The Department reviews a DHS-CS employee's mission 
impact as described in Sec.  158.805, which may result in recognition 
as described in Sec.  158.630.
    (d) Compensation. In alignment with the compensation strategy 
described in

[[Page 47896]]

Sec.  158.601, the Department provides compensation to a DHS-CS 
employee as described in Sec.  158.603.
    (e) Recruitment and development. The Department strategically and 
proactively recruits individuals as described in Sec.  158.510 and 
develops DHS-CS employees under the career development program, 
described in Sec.  158.803, that emphasizes continual learning.
    (f) Core values. The Department uses the core values, described in 
Sec.  158.305, to manage the DHS-CS.


Sec.  158.205  Assignments in the DHS-CS.

    (a) Assignments generally. Each DHS-CS employee has one or more 
assignments during the employee's service in the DHS-CS. The Department 
designates and staffs assignments under the deployment program, 
described in Sec.  158.701.
    (b) Initial and subsequent assignments. The Department matches an 
individual appointed to a qualified position with an initial assignment 
as described in Sec.  158.703(c). The Department may match DHS-CS 
employees with one or more subsequent assignments as described in Sec.  
158.703(d).

Subpart C--Leadership


Sec.  158.301  Administering CTMS and Managing the DHS-CS.

    (a) The Secretary or designee is responsible for administering CTMS 
and managing the DHS-CS, including establishing and maintaining CTMS 
policy.
    (b) The Cybersecurity Talent Management Board (CTMB) is responsible 
for assisting the Secretary or designee in administering CTMS and 
managing the DHS-CS.
    (c) The Secretary or designee, with assistance from the CTMB, 
administers CTMS and manages the DHS-CS based on:
    (1) Talent management principles described in Sec.  158.303;
    (2) Strategic talent priorities described in Sec.  158.304; and
    (3) DHS-CS core values described in Sec.  158.305.


Sec.  158.302  Cybersecurity Talent Management Board (CTMB).

    (a) Purpose. As part of assisting the Secretary or designee in 
administering CTMS and managing the DHS-CS, the CTMB periodically 
evaluates whether CTMS is recruiting and retaining individuals with the 
qualifications necessary to execute the DHS cybersecurity mission.
    (b) Composition. The CTMB comprises:
    (1) Officials representing DHS organizations involved in executing 
the DHS cybersecurity mission; and
    (2) Officials responsible for developing and administering talent 
management policy within the Department.
    (c) Membership. The Secretary or designee:
    (1) Appoints officials to serve as members of the CTMB;
    (2) Designates the Co-Chairs of the CTMB; and
    (3) Ensures CTMB membership fulfills the membership requirements in 
this section and includes appropriate representation, as determined by 
the Secretary or designee, from across the Department.
    (d) Operation. The Secretary or designee establishes the CTMB and 
minimum requirements for CTMB operation.
    (e) External Assistance. The CTMB may periodically designate an 
independent evaluator to conduct an evaluation of CTMS.


Sec.  158.303  Talent management principles.

    (a) Merit system principles. CTMS is designed and the Secretary or 
designee, with assistance from the CTMB, administers CTMS based on the 
principles of merit and fairness embodied in the merit system 
principles in 5 U.S.C. 2301(b).
    (b) Prohibited personnel practices. Any employee of the Department 
who has the authority to take, direct others to take, recommend, or 
approve any talent management action under this part must comply with 5 
U.S.C. 2302(b) regarding talent management actions under this part.
    (c) Equal employment opportunity principles. CTMS is designed and 
the Secretary or designee, with assistance from the CTMB, administers 
CTMS and manages the DHS-CS in accordance with applicable anti-
discrimination laws and policies. Thus, talent management actions under 
this part that materially affect a term or condition of employment must 
be free from discrimination.


Sec.  158.304  Strategic talent priorities.

    The Secretary or designee, with assistance from the CTMB, 
administers CTMS and manages the DHS-CS based on strategic talent 
priorities, which the Secretary or designee sets on an ongoing basis 
using:
    (a) Information from strategic talent planning described in Sec.  
158.401(c);
    (b) The Department's financial and resources planning functions, 
including the functions described in 6 U.S.C. 342(b);
    (c) The Department's comprehensive strategic planning, including 
the plan described in 5 U.S.C. 306; and
    (d) Departmental priorities.


Sec.  158.305  DHS-CS core values.

    The Secretary or designee, with assistance from the CTMB, manages 
the DHS-CS based on the following core values:
    (a) Expertise, including enhancing individual and collective 
expertise regarding cybersecurity through continual learning;
    (b) Innovation, including pursuing new ideas and methods regarding 
cybersecurity work and cybersecurity generally; and
    (c) Adaptability, including anticipating and adjusting to emergent 
and future cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats.

Subpart D--Strategic Talent Planning


Sec.  158.401  Strategic talent planning process.

    (a) Purpose. On an ongoing basis, the Secretary or designee engages 
in a strategic talent planning process to ensure CTMS adapts to changes 
in cybersecurity work, the cybersecurity talent market, and the DHS 
cybersecurity mission.
    (b) Process. The Secretary or designee establishes and administers 
a strategic talent planning process that comprises:
    (1) Identifying DHS-CS cybersecurity work and CTMS qualifications 
based on the DHS cybersecurity mission as described in Sec.  158.402;
    (2) Analyzing the cybersecurity talent market as described in Sec.  
158.403;
    (3) Describing and valuing DHS-CS cybersecurity work under the work 
valuation system described in Sec.  158.404; and
    (4) Ensuring CTMS administration and DHS-CS management is 
continually informed by current, relevant information as described in 
paragraph (c) of this section.
    (c) Informing CTMS administration and DHS-CS management. The 
Secretary or designee aggregates information generated in the processes 
described in paragraphs (b)(1) through (3) of this section and 
information from administering CTMS, and uses that aggregated 
information to inform all other CTMS processes, systems, and programs 
under this part.


Sec.  158.402  DHS-CS cybersecurity work and CTMS qualifications 
identification.

    On an ongoing basis, the Secretary or designee analyzes the DHS 
cybersecurity mission to identify:
    (a) The functions that execute the DHS cybersecurity mission;

[[Page 47897]]

    (b) The cybersecurity work required to perform, manage, or 
supervise those functions; and
    (c) The set of qualifications, identified in accordance with 
applicable legal and professional guidelines, necessary to perform that 
work.


Sec.  158.403  Talent market analysis.

    On an ongoing basis, the Secretary or designee conducts an analysis 
of the cybersecurity talent market, using generally recognized 
compensation principles and practices to:
    (a) Identify and monitor trends in both employment for and 
availability of talent related to cybersecurity, including variations 
in the cost of talent in local cybersecurity talent markets, defined in 
Sec.  158.612(b)(1), or variations in the cost of living in those 
markets, or both; and
    (b) Identify leading strategies for recruiting and retaining talent 
related to cybersecurity.


Sec.  158.404  Work valuation system.

    (a) The Secretary or designee establishes and administers a person-
focused work valuation system to facilitate systematic management of 
the DHS-CS and to address internal equity among DHS-CS employees. The 
work valuation system is designed to reflect that:
    (1) The DHS cybersecurity mission is dynamic;
    (2) Cybersecurity work is constantly evolving; and
    (3) Individuals, through application of their qualifications, 
significantly influence how cybersecurity work is performed.
    (b) The work valuation system is based on:
    (1) CTMS qualifications; and
    (2) DHS-CS cybersecurity work.
    (c) The Department uses the work valuation system to establish work 
and career structures, such as work levels, titles, ranks, and 
specializations, and the Department uses these work and career 
structures for purposes of talent management under this part, such as:
    (1) Describing and categorizing DHS-CS employees, qualified 
positions, and assignments;
    (2) Assessing and selecting individuals for appointment to 
qualified positions; and
    (3) Compensating DHS-CS employees under this part, including 
establishing and administering one or more salary structures, described 
in Sec.  158.611.
    (d) The Department may also use the work and career structures 
described in paragraph (c) of this section for budget and fiscal 
purposes related to administering CTMS and managing the DHS-CS.


Sec.  158.405  Exemption from General Schedule position classification.

    The provisions of 5 U.S.C. Chapter 51 regarding classification and 
5 CFR part 511 regarding classification under the General Schedule, 
among other similar laws, do not apply under CTMS, to the DHS-CS, or to 
talent management involving the individuals described in Sec.  158.103.

Subpart E--Acquiring Talent

Talent Acquisition System


Sec.  158.501  Talent acquisition system.

    (a) The Secretary or designee establishes and administers a talent 
acquisition system, in accordance with applicable legal and 
professional guidelines governing the assessment and selection of 
individuals, to identify and hire individuals possessing CTMS 
qualifications.
    (b) The talent acquisition system comprises the strategies, 
programs, and processes described in this subpart and in CTMS policy 
for proactively and strategically recruiting individuals, assessing 
qualifications of individuals, and considering and selecting 
individuals for employment in the DHS-CS and appointment to qualified 
positions.


Sec.  158.502  Exemption from other laws regarding appointment.

    The provisions of the following laws, among other similar laws, do 
not apply under CTMS, to the DHS-CS, or to talent management involving 
the individuals described in Sec.  158.103:
    (a) The following provisions of 5 U.S.C.:
    (1) Section 3320 regarding selection and appointment in the 
excepted service; and
    (2) Chapter 51 regarding classification; and
    (b) The following provisions of 5 CFR:
    (1) Part 211 regarding veteran preference;
    (2) Part 302 regarding employment in the excepted service (except 
Sec.  302.203 regarding disqualifying factors);
    (3) Part 352 regarding reemployment rights (except subpart C 
regarding detail and transfer of Federal employees to international 
organizations); and
    (4) Part 511 regarding classification under the General Schedule.

Sourcing and Recruiting


Sec.  158.510  Strategic recruitment.

    (a) On an ongoing basis, the Department develops and implements 
strategies for publicly communicating about the DHS cybersecurity 
mission and the DHS-CS and for proactively recruiting individuals 
likely to possess CTMS qualifications.
    (b) The Department develops and implements strategies described in 
paragraph (a) of this section based on:
    (1) CTMS qualifications and DHS-CS cybersecurity work; and
    (2) Strategic talent priorities.
    (c) In developing and implementing strategies described in 
paragraph (a) of this section, the Department may collaborate with:
    (1) Other Federal agencies including the Department of Defense, the 
Office of Personnel Management, and the Department of Veterans Affairs;
    (2) Institutions of higher education, as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1001, 
including historically Black colleges or universities, as described in 
20 U.S.C. 1061(2), and other minority-serving institutions, as 
described in 20 U.S.C. 1067q(a);
    (3) National organizations, including veterans service 
organizations recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and 
professional associations chartered by Congress under 36 U.S.C. Part B; 
and
    (4) Other similar organizations and groups.
    (d) The Department considers the availability of preference 
eligibles and veterans for appointment under this part, and develops 
and implements specific strategies to proactively recruit such 
individuals.


Sec.  158.511  Outreach and sourcing.

    (a) The Department uses a variety of sources, including publicly 
available information, to identify individuals or groups of individuals 
for recruitment under this subpart.
    (b) CTMS policy implementing this subpart addresses:
    (1) Communication of opportunities for employment in the DHS-CS;
    (2) Communication of the application processes to individuals being 
recruited under this part or applying for employment under this part; 
and
    (3) Acceptance and treatment of applications for employment in the 
DHS-CS, including minimum application requirements established under 
this part.


Sec.  158.512  Interview expenses.

    (a) An individual being considered for employment in the DHS-CS may 
receive payment or reimbursement for travel to and from preemployment 
interviews, which may include participating in the assessment program 
described in Sec.  158.520.
    (b) The Department pays or reimburses interview expenses, described 
in paragraph (a) of this

[[Page 47898]]

section, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 5706b and the Federal Travel 
Regulations at 41 CFR chapters 301 through 304.

Assessment and Hiring


Sec.  158.520  Assessment.

    (a) The Department determines individuals' CTMS qualifications 
under the assessment program described in this section. To be 
considered for employment in the DHS-CS, an individual must participate 
in the assessment program and meet applicable rating or scoring 
thresholds in each assessment process in which that individual 
participates.
    (b) The Department establishes and administers an assessment 
program, with one or more assessment processes, based on CTMS 
qualifications. The assessment program is designed to efficiently and 
accurately determine individuals' CTMS qualifications.
    (c) Each assessment process compares the qualifications of an 
individual to CTMS qualifications. The Department develops and 
administers each assessment process in accordance with applicable legal 
and professional guidelines governing the assessment and selection of 
individuals.
    (d) An assessment process may use standardized instruments and 
procedures to measure qualifications. An assessment process may also 
use demonstrations of qualifications determined appropriate by the 
Secretary or designee, such as rewards earned from the cybersecurity 
competition described in Executive Order 13870, published, peer-
reviewed cybersecurity research, or a cybersecurity invention or 
discovery granted a patent under 35 U.S.C. Part II.
    (e) The Department makes available information to assist 
individuals in understanding the purpose of, and preparing for 
participation in, an assessment process.
    (f) To maintain the objectivity and integrity of the assessment 
program, the Department maintains control over the security and release 
of materials relating to the assessment program, including assessment 
plans, validation studies, and other content. Except as otherwise 
required by law, the Department does not release the following:
    (1) Sensitive materials relating to the design and administration 
of the assessment program;
    (2) Names or lists of individuals applying for employment in the 
DHS-CS; and
    (3) Results or relative ratings of individuals who participated in 
the assessment program.


Sec.  158.521  Employment eligibility requirements and employment-
related criteria.

    (a) Employment eligibility requirements. To be eligible for 
employment in the DHS-CS, an individual must:
    (1) Meet U.S. citizenship requirements as described in governing 
Appropriation Acts; and
    (2) Comply with Selective Service System requirements described in 
5 U.S.C. 3328.
    (b) Employment-related criteria. The Department determines criteria 
related to employment in the DHS-CS, reviews individuals applying for 
employment in the DHS-CS using such criteria, and, as part of an offer 
of appointment to a qualified position, provides written notice of 
specific, applicable employment-related criteria necessary to obtain 
and maintain, employment in the DHS-CS. Employment-related criteria 
include:
    (1) Fitness standards and similar factors described in Executive 
orders, 5 CFR 302.203, and policies of the Department;
    (2) Personnel security requirements related to fitness standards 
and similar factors described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;
    (3) Geographic mobility requirements; and
    (4) Other criteria related to any aspect of appointment or 
employment, including selection, appointments, qualified positions, or 
assignments, or some or all of the foregoing.
    (c) Accepting and maintaining employment-related criteria. To be 
appointed to a qualified position, an individual must accept and 
satisfy the specific, applicable employment-related criteria associated 
with the individual's offer of appointment concurrent with the 
individual's acceptance of the offer of appointment. An individual's 
acceptance of an appointment to a qualified position constitutes 
acceptance of applicable employment-related criteria for that qualified 
position and the individual's agreement to satisfy and maintain those 
criteria.
    (d) Changes to employment-related criteria. Employment-related 
criteria may change, and DHS-CS employees may be required to accept and 
satisfy such changes to maintain employment in the DHS-CS.
    (e) Disqualification. The Department may disqualify an individual 
from consideration for employment in the DHS-CS or from appointment to 
a qualified position for: Providing false information to the 
Department, engaging in dishonest conduct with the Department, 
unauthorized disclosure of assessment materials for purposes of giving 
any applicant an advantage in the assessment process, or other actions 
related to an individual's character or conduct that may negatively 
impact the integrity or efficiency of the DHS-CS.


Sec.  158.522  Selection and appointment.

    (a) The Department selects an individual for employment in the DHS-
CS based on the individual's CTMS qualifications, as determined under 
the assessment program described in Sec.  158.520.
    (b) Prior to finalizing the selection of an individual for 
employment in the DHS-CS, the Department considers the availability of 
preference eligibles for appointment under this part, including those 
recruited based on specific strategies described in Sec.  158.510(d), 
who have participated in the assessment program and met applicable 
rating or scoring thresholds, as described in Sec.  158.520(a). When a 
selection is imminent and there are both preference eligibles and non-
preference eligibles undergoing final consideration, the Department 
regards status as a preference eligible as a positive factor in 
accordance with CTMS policy.
    (c) The Department appoints an individual to a qualified position 
under the authority in 6 U.S.C. 658 and this part, and all such 
appointments are in the excepted service and are one of the following 
types of appointment:
    (1) A renewable appointment under Sec.  158.523(a);
    (2) A continuing appointment under Sec.  158.523(b); or
    (3) An advisory appointment under Sec.  158.523(c).
    (d) As part of selecting an individual for employment in the DHS-CS 
and appointing an individual to a qualified position under this part, 
the Department:
    (1) Determines applicable work and career structures, including the 
individual's initial work level, using the work valuation system 
described in Sec.  158.404;
    (2) Sets the individual's initial salary using the salary system as 
described in Sec.  158.620; and
    (3) Matches the individual with an initial assignment as described 
in Sec.  158.703(c).
    (e) No qualified position may be established through the non-
competitive conversion of a current Federal employee from an 
appointment made outside the authority of this part to an appointment 
made under this part.
    (f) An individual who accepts an appointment to a qualified 
position under this part voluntarily accepts an appointment in the 
excepted service.

[[Page 47899]]

    (g) A DHS-CS employee serves in the same qualified position 
throughout a single continuing appointment under this part and 
throughout multiple, consecutive renewable or continuing appointments 
under this part, regardless of any changes in the employee's 
assignments, including primary DHS organization, or changes in the 
employee's official worksite.


Sec.  158.523  Appointment types and circumstances.

    (a) Renewable appointment. Appointment of an individual to a 
renewable appointment is for up to three years. The Department may 
renew a renewable appointment for any time period of up to three years, 
subject to any limitation in CTMS policy regarding the number of 
renewals. Subject to any additional limitation in CTMS policy, the 
Department may change an unexpired renewable appointment to a 
continuing appointment for a DHS-CS employee receiving a salary in the 
standard range described in Sec.  158.613(b). The following types of 
renewable appointments include special conditions:
    (1) Reemployed annuitant. Under this part, the Department may 
appoint an annuitant to a qualified position and must appoint the 
annuitant to a renewable appointment. An annuitant appointed to a 
qualified position serves at the will of the Secretary.
    (2) Uncompensated service. Under this part, the Department may 
appoint to a qualified position an individual to provide uncompensated 
service, any such service is gratuitous service, and the Department 
must appoint such an individual to a renewable appointment. The 
gratuitous nature of service must be a condition of employment of such 
an appointment. The Secretary or designee must approve the appointment 
of each individual providing uncompensated service by name, and such 
individual if not providing gratuitous service would otherwise be 
eligible to receive a salary under this part at or above the amount 
described in Sec.  158.614(a)(2). An individual providing uncompensated 
service serves at the will of the Secretary. An individual for 
appointment to a qualified position to provide uncompensated service 
need not be assessed under this part, and the documentation associated 
with that individual's qualified position need not include all the 
information listed in Sec.  158.706(c).
    (b) Continuing appointment. Appointment of an individual to a 
continuing appointment is for an indefinite time period.
    (c) Advisory appointment. Appointment of an individual, including a 
former DHS-CS employee, to an advisory appointment is governed by 
subpart J of this part.
    (d) Former DHS-CS employee. Appointment under this part of a former 
DHS-CS employee is governed by Sec.  158.525.
    (e) Restoration to duty from uniformed service or compensable 
injury. In accordance with 5 CFR part 353, the Department restores to 
duty a DHS-CS employee who is a covered person described in 5 CFR 
353.103.
    (f) Current and former political appointees. Appointment under this 
part of a current political appointee and a former political appointee, 
both as defined by OPM, may be subject to additional requirements 
outside of this part, including coordination with OPM.


Sec.  158.524  Initial service period.

    (a) All individuals appointed under this part serve an initial 
service period that constitutes a probationary period of three years 
beginning on the date of appointment.
    (b) Except as stated in paragraph (c) of this section, service in 
the DHS-CS counts toward completion of a current initial service period 
under paragraph (a) of this section. No other service in an appointment 
made outside the authority of this part may count toward completion of 
an initial service period under paragraph (a) of this section.
    (c) Service as a DHS-CS advisory appointee, as a reemployed 
annuitant described in Sec.  158.523(a)(1), or providing uncompensated 
service described in Sec.  158.523(a)(2) does not count towards 
completion of an initial service period in a subsequent appointment to 
a qualified position.
    (d) CTMS policy implementing this section addresses computation of 
each DHS-CS employee's initial service period, including accounting for 
working schedules other than full-time schedules described in Sec.  
158.705 and for periods of absence while in pay and nonpay statuses.


Sec.  158.525  Hiring of former DHS-CS employees.

    (a) Rejoining the DHS-CS. To facilitate future service in the DHS-
CS by former DHS-CS employees, the Department aims to:
    (1) Maintain communication with former DHS-CS employees to 
understand their interest in future service in the DHS-CS;
    (2) Provide opportunities for former DHS-CS employees to be 
considered for appointment again to qualified positions; and
    (3) Acknowledge former DHS-CS employees' enhancements to 
qualifications while outside the DHS-CS.
    (b) Rehiring. Except as provided in paragraphs (c) through (e) of 
this section, to be appointed again to a qualified position a former 
DHS-CS employee must:
    (1) Participate again in the assessment program described in Sec.  
158.520 for the Department to determine the former DHS-CS employee's 
current CTMS qualifications; and
    (2) Meet employment eligibility and accept and satisfy applicable 
employment-related criteria as described in Sec.  158.521.
    (c) Reassessment. A former DHS-CS employee whose most recent 
appointment to a qualified position was a renewable appointment or a 
continuing appointment must participate again in the assessment program 
described in Sec.  158.520 unless the Department determines otherwise 
based on factors relevant to the former DHS-CS employee, such as:
    (1) Time elapsed since the former DHS-CS employee's most recent 
appointment to a qualified position under this part;
    (2) Similarity of cybersecurity work performed by the former DHS-CS 
employee since that individual's most recent appointment to a qualified 
position under this part; or
    (3) Similarity of the former DHS-CS employee's CTMS qualifications 
during the former employee's most recent appointment under this part to 
the CTMS qualifications of a newly identified assignment under the 
deployment program in Sec.  158.701.
    (d) Former advisory and political appointees. Appointment under 
this part of a former DHS-CS employee who previously served in an 
advisory appointment or other political appointment may be subject to 
additional requirements, including coordination with the Office of 
Personnel Management.
    (e) Prospective advisory appointees. Appointment of any former DHS-
CS employee to an advisory appointment is governed by subpart J of this 
part.

Subpart F--Compensating Talent

Compensation System


Sec.  158.601  Compensation strategy.

    To ensure the DHS-CS fulfills its purpose, as stated in Sec.  
158.202, the Secretary or designee aims to establish and administer a 
compensation system, described in Sec.  158.602, that:
    (a) Ensures the compensation for DHS-CS employees is sufficiently

[[Page 47900]]

competitive to recruit and retain individuals possessing CTMS 
qualifications;
    (b) Values, encourages, and recognizes, in alignment with the DHS-
CS core values described in Sec.  158.305:
    (1) Exceptional CTMS qualifications and mission impact,
    (2) Excellence and innovation in the performance of DHS-CS 
cybersecurity work, and
    (3) Continual learning to adapt to evolving cybersecurity risks and 
cybersecurity threats; and
    (c) Acknowledges the unpredictable nature of cybersecurity work and 
the expectation that DHS-CS employees occasionally work unusual hours 
and extended hours, as needed, to execute the DHS cybersecurity 
mission, especially in response to exigent circumstances and 
emergencies, including cybersecurity incidents; and
    (d) Reflects an understanding of the cybersecurity talent market, 
including:
    (1) Leading compensation practices and trends,
    (2) Current cybersecurity work expectations and arrangements, and
    (3) An understanding of the concepts of total compensation and 
total rewards.


Sec.  158.602   Compensation system.

    (a) The Secretary or designee establishes and administers a 
compensation system based on:
    (1) The compensation strategy in Sec.  158.601;
    (2) Information from strategic talent planning described in Sec.  
158.401(c);
    (3) Generally recognized compensation principles and practices; and
    (4) Strategic talent priorities.
    (b) The compensation system comprises:
    (1) The salary system described in Sec.  158.610; and
    (2) Additional compensation described in Sec.  158.603.


Sec.  158.603  Employee compensation.

    (a) Compensation. As compensation for service in the DHS-CS, a DHS-
CS employee receives a salary as described in paragraph (b) of this 
section. A DHS-CS employee may also receive additional compensation as 
described in paragraph (c) of this section.
    (b) Salary. Except as provided in paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this 
section, a DHS-CS employee receives a salary under the salary system 
described in Sec.  158.610. The Department sets a DHS-CS employee's 
salary as described in Sec.  158.620, and salary may include a local 
cybersecurity talent market supplement described in Sec.  158.612. The 
Department adjusts a DHS-CS employee's salary as described in Sec.  
158.621.
    (1) Uncompensated service. A DHS-CS employee providing 
uncompensated service described in Sec.  158.523(a)(2) does not receive 
a salary under this part.
    (2) Advisory appointees. A DHS-CS advisory appointee receives a 
salary as described under subpart J of this part.
    (c) Additional compensation. In alignment with the compensation 
strategy in Sec.  158.601 and subject to the requirements of this 
subpart F, the Department may provide the additional compensation 
described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section to DHS-CS employees, 
unless a DHS-CS employee is providing uncompensated service under Sec.  
158.523(a)(2).
    (1) Types. Additional compensation under CTMS is:
    (i) Recognition under Sec. Sec.  158.632 through 158.634;
    (ii) Other special payments under Sec. Sec.  158.640 through 
158.643; and
    (iii) Other types of compensation, including leave and benefits, 
authorized under Sec. Sec.  158.650 through 158.654 and provided in 
accordance with relevant provisions of other laws.
    (2) Combining types. A DHS-CS employee, except such an employee 
providing uncompensated service and a DHS-CS advisory appointee, may 
receive any type of additional compensation described in paragraph 
(c)(1) of this section in combination with any other such type subject 
to the requirements of this subpart F, and subject to the limit 
described in paragraph (c)(3) of this section.
    (3) Limit. Additional compensation described in paragraph (c)(1) of 
this section is subject to, and may be limited by, the aggregate 
compensation limit described in Sec.  158.604.
    (4) Advisory appointees. A DHS-CS advisory appointee may receive 
additional compensation as described in subpart J of this part.
    (5) Department discretion. Any payment or nonpayment of additional 
compensation under this part, or the amount of any such compensation, 
is under the Department's discretion, and may be reviewable only as 
provided for under subpart I of this part.


Sec.  158.604  Aggregate compensation limit.

    (a) Limiting aggregate compensation. A DHS-CS employee may not 
receive additional compensation listed in in paragraphs (b)(1)(i) 
through (iv) of this section if such receipt would cause a DHS-CS 
employee's aggregate compensation for a calendar year to exceed the 
aggregate compensation limit applicable to that employee. A DHS-CS 
employee's applicable aggregate compensation limit is the limit amount 
assigned to the subrange of a salary structure, described in Sec.  
158.611, that contains the employee's salary. The Department assigns an 
aggregate compensation limit to each subrange in a salary structure by 
assigning the amounts referenced in 5 U.S.C. 5307(d)(1) in ascending 
order to the subranges, such that each subrange has an aggregate 
compensation limit that is greater than or equal to the salary maximum 
of that subrange.
    (b) Aggregate compensation. For purposes of this part--
    (1) A DHS-CS employee's aggregate compensation means the total of 
the employee's salary, including any local cybersecurity talent market 
supplement, and the following types of additional compensation the 
employee receives under this part:
    (i) Recognition payments;
    (ii) Payments for special working conditions;
    (iii) Payments for quarters allowances, overseas differentials and 
allowances, and remote worksite allowances, foreign currency 
allowances, and hostile fire pay; and
    (iv) Other similar payments described in CTMS policy as being 
authorized under this part and provided in accordance with other 
relevant provisions of law.
    (2) The following types of compensation a DHS-CS employee receives 
under this part are excluded from the employee's aggregate 
compensation:
    (i) Payments or reimbursements for professional development and 
training;
    (ii) CTMS student loan repayments;
    (iii) CTMS allowances in nonforeign areas;
    (iv) Back pay because of an unjustified or unwarranted talent 
management action;
    (v) Severance pay;
    (vi) Lump-sum payments for accumulated and accrued annual leave;
    (vii) Voluntary separation incentive payments;
    (viii) Payments for reservist differentials; and
    (ix) Monetary value of any honorary recognition, leave, or other 
benefits.
    (c) Forfeiture of compensation exceeding limit amount. Except under 
corrective action described in paragraph (d) of this section, a DHS-CS 
employee may not receive any portion of a payment for the additional 
compensation listed in paragraphs (b)(1)(i) through (iv) of this 
section that would cause the employee's aggregate compensation in any 
calendar year to exceed the applicable limit amount for that employee 
described in paragraph

[[Page 47901]]

(a) of this section and the DHS-CS employee forfeits any such portion 
of a payment.
    (d) Corrective actions. The Department may make a corrective action 
if the Department underestimated or overestimated a DHS-CS employee's 
aggregate compensation in a calendar year, including if an applicable 
aggregate compensation limit amount changed, resulting in the employee 
receiving aggregate compensation in excess of the applicable limit 
amount for a DHS-CS employee or the Department limiting or prohibiting 
an employee's aggregate compensation incorrectly. Corrective actions 
may include the Secretary or designee waiving a debt to the Federal 
Government for a DHS-CS employee under 5 U.S.C. 5584, if warranted, or 
making appropriate corrective payments to a DHS-CS employee.


Sec.  158.605  Exemption from other laws regarding compensation.

    The provisions of the following laws, among other similar laws, do 
not apply under CTMS, to the DHS-CS, or to talent management involving 
the individuals described in Sec.  158.103:
    (a) The following provisions of 5 U.S.C.:
    (1) Chapter 51 regarding classification,
    (2) Chapter 53 regarding pay rates and systems (except section 5379 
regarding student loan repayments),
    (3) Chapter 55, Subchapter V regarding premium pay (except section 
5550a regarding compensatory time off for religious observances),
    (4) Chapter 61 regarding work schedules (except sections 6103-6104 
regarding holidays),
    (5) Section 4502 regarding cash awards and time-off awards,
    (6) Section 4503 regarding agency awards (except regarding honorary 
recognition),
    (7) Section 4505a regarding performance-based cash awards,
    (8) Sections 4507 and 4507a regarding presidential rank awards,
    (9) Section 5307 regarding limitation on certain payments,
    (10) Section 5384 regarding performance awards for the Senior 
Executive Service,
    (11) Section 5753 regarding recruitment and relocation bonuses,
    (12) Section 5754 regarding retention bonuses,
    (13) Section 5755 regarding supervisory differentials, and
    (14) Section 5757 regarding extended assignment incentives;
    (b) The provisions of 29 U.S.C. 206 and 207 regarding minimum wage 
payments and overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, 
as amended; and
    (c) The following provisions of 5 CFR:
    (1) Part 451 regarding awards (except regarding honorary 
recognition);
    (2) Part 511 regarding classification under the General Schedule;
    (3) Part 530 regarding pay rates and systems;
    (4) Part 531 regarding pay under the General Schedule;
    (5) Part 534 regarding pay under other systems;
    (6) Part 536 regarding grade and pay retention;
    (7) Part 550, subparts A regarding premium pay, I regarding pay for 
duty involving physical hardship or hazard, M regarding firefighter 
pay, N regarding compensatory time off for travel, and P regarding 
overtime pay for border patrol agents;
    (8) Part 551 regarding pay administration under the Fair Labor 
Standards Act;
    (9) Part 575 regarding recruitment, relocation, and retention 
incentives, supervisory differentials; and extended assignment 
incentives; and
    (10) Part 610 regarding hours of duty (except subpart B regarding 
holidays).

Salaries


Sec.  158.610  Salary system.

    (a) Under the compensation system, described in Sec.  158.602 of 
this part, the Department establishes and administers a salary system 
with the goals of maintaining:
    (1) Sufficiently competitive salaries for DHS-CS employees as 
stated in Sec.  158.601(a); and
    (2) Equitable salaries among DHS-CS employees.
    (b) The salary system comprises:
    (1) At least one salary structure, described in Sec.  158.611 of 
this part, bounded by the salary range described in Sec.  158.613 and 
incorporating the salary limitations described in Sec.  158.614;
    (2) The process for providing a local cybersecurity talent market 
supplement described in Sec.  158.612; and
    (3) The salary administration framework described in Sec. Sec.  
158.620 through 158.622.


Sec.  158.611  Salary structure.

    (a) Under the salary system, described in Sec.  158.610, the 
Department establishes and administers one or more salary structures 
based on the strategy, information, principles and practices, and 
priorities listed in Sec.  158.602(a).
    (b) A salary structure:
    (1) Is bounded by the salary range described in Sec.  158.613;
    (2) Incorporates, as described in paragraph (d) of this section, 
the salary limitations described in Sec.  158.614; and
    (3) May incorporate other salary and cost control strategies, such 
as control points.
    (c) A salary structure includes subranges, within the salary range 
described in Sec.  158.613 that are associated with work levels 
established by the work valuation system, described in Sec.  158.404. 
Each such subrange is associated with at least one such work level.
    (d) The Department incorporates the salary limitations described in 
Sec.  158.614 into a salary structure by assigning each such salary 
limitation to at least one subrange of the salary structure. The 
Department assigns such salary limitations in ascending order to the 
subranges such that each subrange has a salary limitation that is 
greater than or equal to the salary maximum of that subrange.
    (e) The Department may adjust a salary structure annually, or as 
the Secretary or designee determines necessary, based on the strategy, 
information, principles and practices, and priorities listed in Sec.  
158.602(a).


Sec.  158.612  Local cybersecurity talent market supplement (LCTMS).

    (a) General. The Department may provide a DHS-CS employee a LCTMS 
to ensure the employee receives a sufficiently competitive salary, as 
described in Sec.  158.610(a). A LCTMS accounts for the difference 
between a salary as determined under a salary structure, described in 
Sec.  158.611, and the Department's determination as to what 
constitutes a sufficiently competitive salary for that local 
cybersecurity talent market. The Department determines whether a LCTMS 
is necessary, and establishes and periodically adjusts local 
cybersecurity talent markets and local cybersecurity talent market 
supplement percentages, based on the strategy, information, principles 
and practices, and priorities listed in Sec.  158.602(a).
    (b) Definitions. As used in this section:
    (1) Local cybersecurity talent market means the cybersecurity 
talent market in a geographic area that the Department defines based on 
the talent market analysis described in Sec.  158.403, and that may 
incorporate any pay locality established or modified under 5 U.S.C. 
5304.
    (2) Local cybersecurity talent market supplement percentage means a 
percentage the Department assigns to a local cybersecurity talent 
market to

[[Page 47902]]

increase the amount of a salary provided under a salary structure.
    (c) Salary supplement. A LCTMS is considered part of salary under 
this part and for purposes of applying the aggregate compensation limit 
described in Sec.  158.604. A LCTMS is also basic pay for purposes 
under 5 U.S.C. and 5 CFR, except for purposes of determining pay under 
5 U.S.C. 7511 and 7512 and 5 CFR part 752.
    (d) Eligibility and termination. (1) The Department determines 
eligibility for a LCTMS under this section and CTMS policy implementing 
this section. A DHS-CS employee is eligible for a LCTMS if the 
employee's official worksite, as determined under Sec.  158.704, is 
located in a local cybersecurity talent market with an assigned local 
cybersecurity talent market supplement percentage for the salary 
structure under which the employee's salary is provided.
    (2) The Department terminates a LCTMS a DHS-CS employee receives 
when the employee's official worksite, as determined under Sec.  
158.704, is no longer in a local cybersecurity talent market with an 
assigned local cybersecurity talent market supplement percentage, or 
the salary structure under which the employee's salary is provided no 
longer has an assigned local cybersecurity labor market supplement, or 
both.
    (3) A reduction in salary for a DHS-CS employee because of a change 
in any LCTMS for that employee is not a reduction in pay for the 
purposes of 5 U.S.C. 7512 and 5 CFR part 752.
    (e) Limitation. A DHS-CS employee may not receive, and is not 
entitled to, any portion of a LCTMS that would cause the employee's 
salary to exceed the applicable salary limitation assigned to the 
subrange of a salary structure as described in Sec.  158.611 that 
contains the employee's salary, but the employee may receive the 
portion of such a LCTMS that would not cause the employee's salary to 
exceed the applicable salary limitation. A DHS-CS employee may receive 
a LCTMS that would cause the employee's salary to be in the extended 
range, described in Sec.  158.613(c), only if the Secretary or designee 
invokes the extended range under Sec.  158.613(c)(2) for that employee.


Sec.  158.613  Salary range.

    (a) Range. The salary range provides the boundaries of the salary 
system described in Sec.  158.610. The salary range comprises a 
standard range and an extended range, and the standard range applies 
unless the Secretary or designee invokes the extended range under 
paragraph (c) of this section.
    (b) Standard range. The upper limit of the standard range is equal 
to the amount of total annual compensation payable to the Vice 
President under 3 U.S.C. 104.
    (c) Extended range. The upper limit of the extended range is 150 
percent of the annual rate of basic pay for level I of the Executive 
Schedule (150% of EX-I). Only DHS-CS employees serving in renewable 
appointments may receive a salary amount in the extended range, and 
only if the Secretary or designee invokes the extended range for those 
employees as described in this paragraph (c).
    (1) The Secretary or designee may invoke the extended range for a 
DHS-CS employee when the Secretary or designee determines, based on the 
compensation strategy in Sec.  158.601, that the employee's 
qualifications, the employee's mission impact, and mission-related 
requirements warrant adjusting the employee's salary beyond the 
standard range. The Secretary or designee must approve the salary 
adjustment of each such employee by name, and to receive a salary in 
the extended range the employee must either already be in a renewable 
appointment or accept a renewable appointment. While the employee is 
receiving a salary in an amount in the extended range, the Department 
may not change that employee's appointment to a continuing appointment.
    (2) The Secretary or designee may invoke the extended range for an 
individual selected for appointment to a qualified position when the 
Secretary or designee determines, based on the compensation strategy in 
Sec.  158.601, that the individual's qualifications, the individual's 
anticipated mission impact, and mission-related requirements warrant 
setting the individual's salary beyond the standard range. The 
Secretary or designee must approve the appointment of each such 
individual to a qualified position by name, and the individual must be 
appointed to a renewable appointment only. While that individual is 
receiving a salary under this part in an amount in the extended range, 
the Department may not change that individual's appointment to a 
continuing appointment at any time.
    (d) Maximum. No DHS-CS employee may receive a salary under this 
part in excess of 150% of EX-I.


Sec.  158.614  Salary limitations.

    (a) The salary system, described in Sec.  158.610, has the 
following limitations on maximum rates of salary that apply within the 
CTMS salary range described in Sec.  158.613 of this part:
    (1) The annual rate of basic pay for GS-15, step 10 under the 
General Schedule (excluding locality pay or any other additional pay as 
defined in 5 CFR chapter 1);
    (2) The annual rate of basic pay for level IV of the Executive 
Schedule;
    (3) The annual rate of basic pay for level II of the Executive 
Schedule;
    (4) The annual rate of basic pay for level I of the Executive 
Schedule; and
    (5) The total annual compensation payable to the Vice President 
under 3 U.S.C. 104.
    (b) The Department may establish additional limitations on maximum 
rates of salary for the salary system.
    (c) The salary system incorporates each limitation on maximum rates 
of salary described in this section into each salary structure 
established under Sec.  158.611.

Salary Administration


Sec.  158.620  Setting salaries.

    (a) The Department sets the salary for an individual accepting an 
appointment to a qualified position as part of selection and 
appointment of the individual, described in Sec.  158.522. The 
Department sets the individual's salary within a subrange of a salary 
structure described in Sec.  158.611 based on consideration of:
    (1) The individual's CTMS qualifications, determined under the 
assessment program described in Sec.  158.520;
    (2) Applicable work and career structures, including the 
individual's initial work level, determined as part of selection and 
appointment under Sec.  158.522;
    (3) The individual's anticipated mission impact;
    (4) Mission-related requirements; and
    (5) Strategic talent priorities.
    (b) In setting the salary for an individual appointed to a 
qualified position under this part, the Department may set the 
individual's salary without regard to any prior salary of the 
individual, including any salary or basic pay while serving in a 
previous appointment under this part or in another previous Federal 
appointment made outside the authority of this part.
    (c) In setting the salary for an individual appointed to a 
qualified position under this part, the Department may provide a local 
cybersecurity talent market supplement described in Sec.  158.612.


Sec.  158.621  Adjusting salaries.

    (a) The Department adjusts a DHS-CS employee's salary, or the 
salaries of a group of DHS-CS employees, by paying a recognition 
adjustment under

[[Page 47903]]

Sec.  158.631, or paying a local cybersecurity talent market supplement 
under Sec.  158.612, or both.
    (b) The Department does not provide DHS-CS employees with any 
automatic salary increase or any salary increase based on length of 
service in the DHS-CS or in any position outside the DHS-CS.
    (c) If the Department adjusts a salary structure under Sec.  
158.611(e) that results in an increase to the salary minimum for one or 
more subranges of the salary structure, for any DHS-CS employee 
receiving a salary in an affected subrange at the affected salary 
minimum, DHS adjusts the employee's salary to reflect the adjustment to 
the salary structure and the new salary minimum for the affected 
subrange. Such a salary adjustment is not considered a recognition 
adjustment under Sec.  158.631.


 Sec.  158.622  Administering salary in accordance with relevant 
provisions of other laws.

    (a) Except as stated in paragraph (b) of this section, the 
Department administers salary under this part in accordance with the 
provisions of 5 CFR part 550 regarding pay administration generally.
    (b) The following provisions of 5 CFR part 550 do not apply to 
administering salary under this part and do not apply under CTMS, to 
the DHS-CS, or to talent management involving the individuals described 
in Sec.  158.103 of this part:
    (1) Subpart A regarding premium pay;
    (2) Subpart I regarding pay for duty involving physical hardship or 
hazard;
    (3) Subpart M regarding firefighter pay;
    (4) Subpart N compensatory time-off for travel; and
    (5) Subpart P regarding overtime for board patrol agents.
    (c) The Department also administers salary under this part in 
accordance with the provisions of the following:
    (1) 5 U.S.C. 5520, 42 U.S.C. 659 and 5 CFR parts 581 and 582, 
regarding garnishment;
    (2) 31 U.S.C. 3702 and 5 CFR part 178 regarding claims settlement;
    (3) 31 U.S.C. 3711 and 3716 and 31 CFR chapter IX parts 900 through 
904 regarding debt collection;
    (4) 5 U.S.C. Chapter 55 Subchapter VII regarding payments to 
missing employees; and
    (5) Other relevant provisions of other laws specifically adopted in 
CTMS policy.
    (d) For purposes of salary administration under this section, the 
Department administers salary based on consideration of a DHS-CS 
employee's work schedule under the work scheduling system, described in 
Sec.  158.705, and may convert the employee's salary into an hourly 
rate, biweekly rate, or other rate.

Recognition


Sec.  158.630  Employee recognition.

    (a) DHS-CS employees. In alignment with the compensation strategy 
in Sec.  158.601 and the performance management program described in 
Sec.  158.802 of this part, the Department may provide recognition 
under Sec. Sec.  158.631 through 158.634, on a periodic or ad hoc 
basis, to a DHS-CS employee based on the employee's mission impact. In 
providing such recognition, the Department may also consider mission-
related requirements and strategic talent priorities.
    (b) Prospective employees. In alignment with the compensation 
strategy in Sec.  158.601, the Department may offer, and provide upon 
appointment, recognition payments under Sec.  158.632(b) and 
recognition time-off under Sec.  158.633(b), on a periodic or ad hoc 
basis, to an individual selected for employment in the DHS-CS based on:
    (1) The individual's CTMS qualifications determined under the 
assessment program described in Sec.  158.520;
    (2) The individual's anticipated mission impact;
    (3) Mission-related requirements; and
    (4) Strategic talent priorities.
    (c) Eligibility. The Department determines eligibility for 
recognition under this section, Sec. Sec.  158.631 through 158.634, and 
CTMS policy implementing this section. The Department may defer 
providing recognition to a DHS-CS employee under this part if the 
Department is in the process of determining whether the employee's 
performance is unacceptable, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 4301(3), or whether 
the employee has engaged in misconduct. If the Department determines a 
DHS-CS employee's performance is unacceptable, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 
4301(3), or the employee receives an unacceptable rating of record 
under Sec.  158.804, or the Department determines the employee has 
engaged in misconduct, the employee is ineligible to receive 
recognition under this part.
    (d) Policy. CTMS policy implementing this section addresses:
    (1) Eligibility criteria;
    (2) Requirements for documenting the reason and basis for 
recognition provided to a DHS-CS employee;
    (3) Appropriate levels of review and approval for providing 
recognition;
    (4) Any limitations on the total number, frequency, or amount of 
recognition a DHS-CS employee may receive within any specific time 
period;
    (5) Any service agreement requirements; and
    (6) Processes for evaluating the effectiveness of recognition in 
supporting the purpose of CTMS described in Sec.  158.101, the purpose 
of the DHS-CS described in Sec.  158.202, and the operationalization of 
the compensation strategy described in Sec.  158.601.
    (e) Advisory appointees. Recognition under this part for a DHS-CS 
advisory appointee is subject to additional requirements and 
restrictions in subpart J of this part.


Sec.  158.631  Recognition adjustments.

    (a) Under this section and Sec.  158.630, the Department may 
provide a recognition adjustment to a DHS-CS employee for the reasons 
and bases stated in Sec.  158.630(a). A recognition adjustment is an 
adjustment to the DHS-CS employee's salary provided under a salary 
structure described in Sec.  158.611. A recognition adjustment does not 
alter any local cybersecurity talent market supplement for that 
employee.
    (b) No DHS-CS employee may receive a recognition adjustment that 
would cause the employee's salary to exceed the salary range maximum 
described in Sec.  158.613(d) or the applicable salary limitation 
assigned to the subrange of a salary structure as described in Sec.  
158.611(d) that contains the employee's salary. A DHS-CS employee may 
not receive a recognition adjustment that would cause the employee's 
salary amount to be in the extended range, described in Sec.  
158.613(c), unless the Secretary or designee invokes the extended range 
for that employee under Sec.  158.613(c)(1).
    (c) A recognition adjustment under this section is not a promotion 
for any purpose under Title 5 U.S.C. or 5 CFR.
    (d) A recognition adjustment under this section for a DHS-CS 
advisory appointee is subject to additional requirements and 
restrictions in subpart J of this part.


Sec.  158.632  Recognition payments.

    (a) Under this section and Sec.  158.630, and for the reasons and 
bases stated in Sec.  158.630(a), the Department may provide a 
recognition payment to a DHS-CS employee in an amount of up to 20 
percent, or up to 50 percent with approval of the Secretary or 
designee, of the receiving DHS-CS employee's

[[Page 47904]]

salary. The Department may require a service agreement of not less than 
six months and not more than three years as part of providing a 
recognition payment to a DHS-CS employee.
    (b) Under this section and Sec.  158.630, and for the reasons and 
bases stated in Sec.  158.630(b) and as part of an offer of employment 
in the DHS-CS, the Department may offer a recognition payment to an 
individual selected for employment in the DHS-CS in an amount of up to 
20 percent of the receiving individual's initial salary in the DHS-CS. 
The Department requires a service agreement of not less than six months 
and not more than three years as part of providing, upon appointment, a 
recognition payment to an individual selected for employment in the 
DHS-CS.
    (c) The Department may provide a recognition payment as a lump sum 
payment, an installment payment, or a recurring payment.
    (d) The Department may provide a recognition payment under this 
section to a former DHS-CS employee or to the legal heirs or estate of 
a former DHS-CS employee in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 4505.
    (e) Acceptance of a recognition payment constitutes agreement for 
Federal Government use of any idea, method, device, or similar that is 
the basis of the payment.
    (f) A recognition payment under this section is subject to and may 
be limited by the aggregate compensation limit described in Sec.  
158.604.
    (g) A recognition payment is not salary under this part and is not 
basic pay for any purpose under 5 U.S.C. or 5 CFR.
    (h) A recognition payment under this section is based on the 
following types of awards and incentives provided under 5 U.S.C.:
    (1) Cash awards under 5 U.S.C. 4502;
    (2) Agency awards under 5 U.S.C. 4503;
    (3) Performance-based cash awards under 5 U.S.C. 4505a and 5384;
    (4) Presidential rank awards under 5 U.S.C. 4507 and 4507a; and
    (5) Recruitment, relocation, and retention incentives 5 U.S.C. 5753 
and 5754.
    (i) A recognition payment under this section is in lieu of the 
types of awards and incentives provided under 5 U.S.C. listed in 
paragraph (h) of this section, and a DHS-CS employee is ineligible to 
receive any such awards or incentives.
    (j) An individual selected for employment in the DHS-CS is 
ineligible to receive, as part of the offer of employment, any other 
offer of a monetary award or incentive, a payment in addition to 
salary, or other monetary recognition from the Department except as 
provided in this section and Sec.  158.630. An individual appointed to 
an advisory appointment is also ineligible to receive, as part of an 
offer of employment in the DHS-CS, any offer of recognition under this 
section.
    (k) A recognition payment under this section for a DHS-CS advisory 
appointee is subject to additional requirements and restrictions in 
subpart J of this part.


Sec.  158.633  Recognition time-off.

    (a) Under this section and Sec.  158.630, and for the reasons and 
bases stated in Sec.  158.630(a), the Department may provide 
recognition time-off to a DHS-CS employee for use within a designated 
timeframe not to exceed 26 work periods, as defined in Sec.  
158.705(c). Recognition time-off is time-off from duty without charge 
to leave or loss of compensation.
    (b) Under this section and Sec.  158.630, and for the reasons and 
bases stated in Sec.  158.630(b) and as part of an offer of employment 
in the DHS-CS, the Department may offer up to 40 hours of recognition 
time-off to an individual selected for employment in the DHS-CS for use 
within a designated timeframe not to exceed 26 work periods, as defined 
in Sec.  158.705(b). The Department may require a service agreement as 
part of providing, upon appointment, recognition time-off to an 
individual selected for employment in the DHS-CS.
    (c) All recognition time-off provided, and the use of such time-
off, must be recorded in a timekeeping system for purposes of salary 
administration and leave administration under this part.
    (d) Recognition time-off provided under this section may not, under 
any circumstances, be converted to a cash payment to the receiving DHS-
CS employee or any other type of time-off or leave.
    (e) Recognition time-off under this section is based on time-off 
awards provided under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 4502(e).
    (f) Recognition time-off under this section is in lieu of the time-
off awards provided under 5 U.S.C. 4502(e), and a DHS-CS employee is 
ineligible to receive any such awards.
    (g) An individual selected for employment in the DHS-CS is 
ineligible to receive, as part of the offer of employment, any other 
offer of time-off or time-off award from the Department except as 
provided in this section and Sec. Sec.  158.630 and 158.651. An 
individual appointed to an advisory appointment is also ineligible to 
receive, as part of an offer of employment in the DHS-CS, any offer of 
recognition under this section.
    (h) A recognition time-off provided under this section to a DHS-CS 
advisory appointee is subject to additional requirements and 
restrictions in subpart J of this part.


Sec.  158.634  Honorary recognition.

    (a) Under this section and Sec.  158.630, the Department may 
establish one or more honorary recognition programs to provide honorary 
recognition to DHS-CS employees for the reasons and bases stated in 
Sec.  158.630(a). The Department may incur necessary expenses for 
honorary recognition under an honorary recognition program established 
under this section.
    (b) Honorary recognition under this section is based on honorary 
recognition provided under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 4503, and a DHS-
CS employee may be eligible to receive honorary recognition under 5 
U.S.C. 4503 and 5 CFR part 451 in addition to any honorary recognition 
under this section.
    (c) The Department may provide honorary recognition under this 
section to a former DHS-CS employee or to the legal heirs or estate of 
a former DHS-CS employee in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 4505.
    (d) Honorary recognition under this section for a DHS-CS advisory 
appointee is subject to additional requirements in subpart J of this 
part.

Other Special Payments


Sec.  158.640   Professional Development and Training.

    (a) In alignment with the compensation strategy described in Sec.  
158.601 and the career development program described in Sec.  158.803, 
the Department may provide professional development and training 
opportunities, payments, and reimbursements for DHS-CS employees.
    (b) CTMS policy implementing this section addresses:
    (1) Eligibility criteria;
    (2) Requirements for documenting the reason and basis for 
professional development and training opportunities, payments, and 
reimbursements provided to a DHS-CS employee;
    (3) Appropriate levels of review and approval for providing 
professional development and training opportunities, payments, and 
reimbursements;
    (4) Any limitations on the total number or frequency of 
professional development and training opportunities, and any 
limitations on the total number, frequency, or amount of professional 
development and training payments and reimbursements a DHS-CS employee

[[Page 47905]]

may receive, within any specific time period;
    (5) Any service agreement requirements;
    (6) Requirements for communicating to DHS-CS employees and their 
supervisors about professional development and training opportunities; 
and
    (7) Processes for evaluating the effectiveness of the professional 
development and training in supporting the purpose of CTMS described in 
Sec.  158.101, the purpose of the DHS-CS described in Sec.  158.202, 
and the operationalization of the compensation strategy described in 
Sec.  158.601.
    (c) Any payment or reimbursement under this section is excluded 
from the aggregate compensation limit described in Sec.  158.604.
    (d) Any payment or reimbursement under this section is not salary 
under this part and is not basic pay for any purpose under 5 U.S.C. or 
5 CFR.
    (e) Professional development and training under this section is 
based on the following training and professional development 
opportunities, payments, and reimbursements provided under 5 U.S.C.:
    (1) Sabbaticals under 5 U.S.C. 3396;
    (2) Academic degree training under 5 U.S.C. 4107;
    (3) Expenses of training under 5 U.S.C. 4109;
    (4) Expenses of attendance at meetings under 5 U.S.C. 4110; and
    (5) Payment of expenses to obtain professional credentials under 5 
U.S.C. 5757.
    (f) In addition to any professional development and training under 
this section, a DHS-CS employee may be eligible to receive the training 
and professional development opportunities, payments, and 
reimbursements provided under 5 U.S.C. listed in paragraph (e) of this 
section.
    (g) Professional development and training under this section for a 
DHS-CS advisory appointee is subject to additional requirements and 
restrictions in subpart J of this part.


Sec.  158.641  Student loan repayments.

    (a) In alignment with the compensation strategy described in Sec.  
158.601, the Department may provide a student loan repayment to a DHS-
CS employee under this section and in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 5379 and 
5 CFR part 537, except that:
    (1) The maximum payment amounts under 5 U.S.C. 5379 and 5 CFR part 
537 do not apply, and the Department may provide and a DHS-CS employee 
may receive a student loan repayment under this section so long as such 
repayment does not exceed $16,500 per employee per calendar year and a 
total of $90,000 per employee;
    (2) The minimum service period length of three years under 5 U.S.C. 
5379 and 5 CFR part 537 does not apply, and instead the length of a 
minimum service period for a DHS-CS employee receiving a student loan 
repayment under this section is determined under CTMS policy and based 
on the amount of the repayment received by the employee; and
    (3) Eligibility criteria related to time-limited appointments under 
5 U.S.C. 5379 and 5 CFR part 537 do not apply, and a DHS-CS employee in 
a renewable appointment may receive a student loan payment under this 
section.
    (b) In alignment with eligibility criteria under 5 U.S.C. 5379 and 
5 CFR part 537:
    (1) If the Department determines a DHS-CS employee's performance is 
unacceptable, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 4301(3), or the employee receives 
an unacceptable rating of record under Sec.  158.804, or the Department 
determines the employee has engaged in misconduct, the employee is 
ineligible to receive a student loan repayment under this section.
    (2) A DHS-CS advisory appointee is ineligible to receive a student 
loan repayment under this section.
    (c) CTMS policy implementing this section addresses:
    (1) Eligibility criteria;
    (2) Requirements for documenting the reason and basis for a student 
loan repayment provided to a DHS-CS employee;
    (3) Appropriate levels of review and approval for providing a 
student loan repayment;
    (4) Service agreement requirements, including minimum service 
periods;
    (5) Any additional limitations on student loan repayments; and
    (6) Processes for evaluating the effectiveness of student loan 
repayments in supporting the purpose of CTMS described in Sec.  
158.101, the purpose of the DHS-CS described in Sec.  158.202, and the 
operationalization of the compensation strategy described in Sec.  
158.601.
    (d) Any student loan repayment provided under this section is 
excluded from the aggregate compensation limit described in Sec.  
158.604.
    (e) Any student loan repayment provided under this section is not 
salary under this part and is not basic pay for any purpose under 5 
U.S.C. or 5 CFR.


Sec.  158.642  Special working conditions payment program.

    (a) In alignment with the compensation strategy described in Sec.  
158.601, the Department may establish a program to provide payments to 
DHS-CS employees to address special working conditions that are 
otherwise unaccounted for or the Department determines are accounted 
for insufficiently in DHS-CS employees' other types of additional 
compensation and salary.
    (b) Special working conditions include circumstances in which a 
supervisor or other appropriate official requires a DHS-CS employee to 
perform DHS-CS cybersecurity work that involves, as determined by the 
Department:
    (1) Unusual physical or mental hardship;
    (2) Performing work at atypical locations, at unexpected times, or 
for an uncommon duration of time exceeding the expectation described in 
Sec.  158.601(c) about working unusual hours and extended hours; or
    (3) A combination of the conditions described in paragraphs (b)(1) 
and (2) of this section.
    (c) A payment for special working conditions is a payment of up to 
25 percent of the receiving DHS-CS employee's salary as computed for a 
work period, defined in Sec.  158.705(b), or a series of work periods.
    (d) The Department determines whether to establish, adjust, or 
cancel a program under this section based on information from:
    (1) The work scheduling system described in Sec.  158.705; and
    (2) Strategic talent planning described in Sec.  158.401(c), 
including information about current compensation practices of other 
cybersecurity employers analyzed under the talent market analysis 
described in Sec.  158.403.
    (e) The Department determines eligibility for a payment for special 
working conditions under this section and CTMS policy implementing this 
section.
    (1) A DHS-CS employee who receives a payment for special working 
conditions under a program established under this section is not 
automatically eligible or entitled to receive any additional such 
payments.
    (2) A DHS-CS employee receiving a salary equal to or greater than 
EX-IV is ineligible to receive a payment under this section.
    (3) A DHS-CS advisory appointee is ineligible to receive a payment 
for special working conditions under this section.
    (f) CTMS policy implementing this section addresses:
    (1) Eligibility criteria;
    (2) Requirements for documenting the reason and basis for payments 
for

[[Page 47906]]

special working conditions provided to a DHS-CS employee;
    (3) Appropriate levels of review and approval for providing 
payments for special working conditions;
    (4) Any limitations on payments for special working conditions;
    (5) Requirements for determining whether a payment for special 
working conditions is a lump sum payment, paid in installments, or a 
recurring payment; and
    (6) Processes for evaluating the effectiveness of any special 
working conditions payment program in supporting the purpose of CTMS 
described in Sec.  158.101, the purpose of the DHS-CS described in 
Sec.  158.202, and the operationalization of the compensation strategy 
described in Sec.  158.601.
    (g) Any payment under this section is subject to and may be limited 
by the aggregate compensation limit described in Sec.  158.604.
    (h) Any payment under this section is not salary under this part 
and is not basic pay for any purpose under Title 5 U.S.C. or 5 CFR.
    (i) A payment for special working conditions under this section is 
based on the following types of payments provided under 5 U.S.C.:
    (1) Night, standby and hazardous duty differential under 5 U.S.C. 
5545;
    (2) Pay for Sunday and holiday work under 5 U.S.C. 5546; and
    (3) Extended assignment incentives under 5 U.S.C. 5757.
    (j) A payment for special working conditions under this section is 
in lieu of the types of payment provided under 5 U.S.C. listed in 
paragraph (g) of this section, and a DHS-CS employee is ineligible to 
receive any such payments under 5 U.S.C.


Sec.  158.643  Allowance in nonforeign areas.

    (a) A DHS-CS employee is eligible for and may receive an allowance 
under 5 U.S.C. 5941 and implementing regulations in 5 CFR part 591, 
subpart B, on the same basis and to the same extent as if the employee 
is an employee covered by those authorities.
    (b) The Department provides an allowance described in paragraph (a) 
of this section to any DHS-CS employee who is eligible, as described in 
paragraph (a), for such allowance.
    (c) Any allowance provided under this section is excluded from the 
aggregate compensation limit described in Sec.  158.604.
    (d) Any allowance provided under this section is not salary under 
this part and is not basic pay for any purpose under 5 U.S.C. or 5 CFR.
    (e) Any allowance under this section for a DHS-CS advisory 
appointee is subject to additional requirements and restrictions in 
subpart J of this part.

Other Compensation Provided in Accordance With Relevant Provisions of 
Other Laws


Sec.  158.650  Holidays.

    In alignment with salary administration under Sec.  158.622 and 
work scheduling under Sec.  158.705, the Department provides holidays 
to a DHS-CS employee under this section and in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 
6103-6104 and 5 CFR part 610, subpart B.


Sec.  158.651  Leave.

    (a) Leave. In alignment with salary administration under Sec.  
158.622 and work scheduling under Sec.  158.705, the Department 
provides leave to a DHS-CS employee under this section and in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. Chapter 63 and 5 CFR part 630, including:
    (1) Annual leave, as described in 5 U.S.C. Chapter 63, Subchapter 
I;
    (2) Sick leave, as described in 5 U.S.C. Chapter 63, Subchapter I;
    (3) Other paid leave, as described in 5 U.S.C. Chapter 63, 
Subchapter II;
    (4) Voluntary transfers of leave, as described in 5 U.S.C. Chapter 
63, Subchapter III;
    (5) Voluntary leave bank programs, as described in 5 U.S.C. Chapter 
63, Subchapter IV;
    (6) Family and medical leave, as described in 5 U.S.C. Chapter 63, 
Subchapter V; and
    (7) Leave transfer in disasters and emergencies, as described in 5 
U.S.C. Chapter 63, Subchapter VI.
    (b) Annual leave accrual. A DHS-CS employee's annual leave accrual 
amount is determined under 5 U.S.C. 6303.
    (c) Annual leave accumulation. A DHS-CS employee's annual leave 
accumulation amount is determined under 5 U.S.C. 6304, except that the 
Department may apply 5 U.S.C. 6304(f)(2)(A) to DHS-CS employees 
receiving a salary under this part that exceeds 120 percent of the 
minimum annual rate of basic pay for GS-15 under the General Schedule.
    (d) Leave credits. The annual leave and sick leave accrued to the 
credit of a current Federal employee who is appointed to a qualified 
position under this part without a break in service of more than three 
calendar days is transferred to the employee's credit in accordance 
with 5 U.S.C. 6308.
    (e) Annual leave balance upon leaving the DHS-CS. When a DHS-CS 
employee moves to a position outside of the DHS-CS, any leave balance 
for the employee is addressed in accordance with 5 CFR 630.209 and 
630.501.
    (f) Leave administration. The Department administers leave under 
this section as described in this section and in Sec.  158.655, and in 
accordance with the relevant provisions of other laws referenced in 
this section and CTMS policy.


Sec.  158.652  Compensatory time-off for religious observance.

    In alignment with salary administration under Sec.  158.622 of this 
part and work scheduling under Sec.  158.705, the Department provides 
compensatory time-off for religious observance to a DHS-CS employee 
under this section and in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 5550a and 5 CFR 550, 
subpart J.


Sec.  158.653  Other benefits.

    (a) In alignment with salary administration under Sec.  158.622, 
leave administration under Sec.  158.651, and work scheduling under 
Sec.  158.705, the Department provides benefits, including retirement, 
health benefits, and insurance programs, to a DHS-CS employee under 
this section and in accordance with 5 U.S.C. Chapters 81-90 and 5 CFR 
parts 831 and 838-894.
    (b) The Department administers the benefits of an annuitant 
appointed to a qualified position in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 8344, 5 
U.S.C. 8468, 5 CFR 553.203, or 5 CFR part 837, as applicable.
    (c) The Department provides a transportation subsidy to a DHS-CS 
employee under this section and in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 7905.


Sec.  158.654  Other payments.

    (a) The Department provides the following other types of payments 
to a DHS-CS employee under this section and in accordance with the 
relevant provisions of law referenced in this section:
    (1) Severance pay under this section, and the Department provides 
any severance pay in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 5595 and 5 CFR part 550, 
subpart G, except that separation from the DHS-CS because of a lapse or 
nonrenewal of a DHS-CS employee's appointment under this part or 
because of a DHS-CS employee's refusal to accepted a directed 
subsequent assignment, described in Sec.  158.708, is not an 
involuntary separation, and the former DHS-CS employee is not entitled 
to severance pay.
    (2) Lump-sum leave payouts under this section, and the Department 
provides any lump-sum leave payouts in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 5551 
and 5552 and 5 CFR part 550, subpart L.
    (3) Voluntary separation incentive payments under this section, and 
the

[[Page 47907]]

Department provides any such payments in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3521-
3525 and 5 CFR part 576.
    (4) Reservist differential under this section, and the Department 
provides any such differential in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 5538.
    (5) Quarters allowances under this section, and the Department 
provides any such allowances in accordance with 5 U.S.C. Chapter 59, 
Subchapter II, the Department of State Standardized Regulations and any 
implementing supplements issued by the Department of State, and 5 CFR 
part 591, subpart C.
    (6) Overseas differentials and allowances under this section, and 
the Department provides any such differentials and allowances in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. Chapter 59, Subchapter III, the Department of 
State Standardized Regulations and any implementing supplements issued 
by the Department of State, and 5 CFR part 591, subpart C.
    (7) Remote worksite allowances, foreign currency allowances, and 
hostile fire pay under this section, and the Department provides any 
such allowances and pay in accordance with 5 U.S.C. Chapter 59, 
Subchapter IV.
    (8) Other similar payments described in CTMS policy as being 
authorized under this part and provided in accordance with relevant 
provisions of other laws.
    (b) A payment for any quarter allowances, overseas differentials 
and allowances, and remote worksite allowances, foreign currency 
allowances, and hostile fire pay under paragraphs (a)(5) through (7) of 
this section is subject to and may be limited by the aggregate 
compensation limit described in Sec.  158.604. A payment for any 
severance pay, lump-sum leave payout, voluntary separation inventive 
payment, and reservist differential under paragraphs (a)(1) through (4) 
of this section is not subject to the aggregate compensation limit 
described in Sec.  158.604. A payment under paragraph (a)(8) of this 
section may be subject to and limited by the aggregate compensation 
limit described in Sec.  158.604, as described in CTMS policy.
    (c) Any payment under this section is not salary under this part 
and is not basic pay for any purpose under Title 5 U.S.C. or 5 CFR.


Sec.  158.655  Administering compensation in accordance with relevant 
provisions of other laws.

    (a) For purposes of administering compensation authorized under 
Sec. Sec.  158.650 through 158.654 in accordance with relevant 
provisions of other laws:
    (1) The Department may convert a DHS-CS employee's salary into an 
hourly rate, biweekly rate, or other rate, and administer compensation 
based on consideration of the DHS-CS employee's work schedule under the 
work scheduling system described in Sec.  158.705;
    (2) A DHS-CS employee's hours of work and related computations are 
determined under the relevant provisions of law referenced in 
Sec. Sec.  158.650 through 158.654 and CTMS policy implementing this 
section;
    (3) A DHS-CS employee on a part-time schedule described in Sec.  
158.705 is treated as if the employee is serving ``part-time career 
employment'' defined in 5 CFR 340.101; and
    (4) A DHS-CS employee on a contingent schedule described in Sec.  
158.705 is treated as if the employee is serving ``intermittent 
employment'' defined in 5 CFR 340.401.
    (b) If, in administering compensation under Sec. Sec.  158.650 
through 158.654, the Department determines it is necessary to clarify 
the relationship between those sections and the relevant provisions of 
law referenced in those sections and any other relevant provisions of 
other laws, the Department will address the issue in new or revised 
CTMS policy.

Subpart G--Deploying Talent


Sec.  158.701  Deployment program.

    (a) Deployment program. The Secretary or designee establishes and 
administers a deployment program to:
    (1) Guide when the Department uses CTMS to recruit and retain 
individuals possessing CTMS qualifications; and
    (2) Operationalize aspects of the work valuation system, the talent 
acquisition system and the compensation system, described in Sec. Sec.  
158.404, 158.501, and 158.602 respectively.
    (b) Under the deployment program, the Department:
    (1) Designates qualified positions as described in Sec.  158.702;
    (2) Designates and staffs assignments as described in Sec.  
158.703;
    (3) Determines and documents a DHS-CS employee's official worksite 
as described in Sec.  158.704;
    (4) Administers a work scheduling system as described in Sec.  
158.705; and
    (5) Performs necessary recordkeeping as described in Sec.  158.706.


Sec.  158.702  Designating qualified positions.

    (a) When a DHS organization requires individuals possessing CTMS 
qualifications to ensure the most effective execution of the DHS 
cybersecurity mission and the recruitment and retention of such 
individuals would likely be enhanced by using CTMS, the Secretary or 
designee designates qualified positions.
    (b) CTMS policy implementing this section addresses:
    (1) Procedures for DHS organizations to request using CTMS;
    (2) Requirements for DHS organization using CTMS; and
    (3) Information necessary to designate qualified positions.
    (c) Designating qualified positions may result in:
    (1) Establishing one or more qualified positions under the talent 
acquisition system, described in Sec.  158.501; or
    (2) Designating and staffing one or more assignments as described 
in Sec.  158.703; or
    (3) Both results described in paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this 
section.
    (d) Designating qualified positions involves budget and fiscal 
considerations related to establishing one or more qualified positions 
under the talent acquisition system, described in Sec.  158.501.


Sec.  158.703  Designating and staffing assignments.

    (a) Designating assignments. The Department designates assignments 
by defining combinations of CTMS qualifications and DHS-CS 
cybersecurity work associable with qualified positions. CTMS policy 
implementing this section addresses procedures for DHS organizations to 
designate assignments, including as a result of designating qualified 
positions as described in Sec.  158.702.
    (b) Staffing assignments. The Department staffs assignments by:
    (1) Matching assignments with DHS-CS employees as described in 
paragraph (d) of this section;
    (2) Matching assignments with newly appointed individuals as 
described in paragraph (c) of this section; or
    (3) Seeking to recruit individuals and establish new qualified 
positions under the talent acquisition system described in Sec.  
158.501 and then matching assignments with newly appointed individuals 
as described in paragraph (c) of this section.
    (c) Initial assignment. Upon appointment of an individual to a 
qualified position, the Department matches the individual with an 
assignment based on the alignment of the individual's CTMS 
qualifications, determined under the assessment program described in 
Sec.  158.520, to the CTMS qualifications of an assignment. In matching 
an individual with an initial assignment, the Department may also 
consider:
    (1) Input from the individual;

[[Page 47908]]

    (2) Input from DHS organizations;
    (3) Mission-related requirements; and
    (4) Strategic talent priorities.
    (d) Subsequent assignments. The Department matches DHS-CS employees 
with assignments subsequent to employees' initial assignments, as 
necessary.
    (1) The Department matches a DHS-CS employee with a subsequent 
assignment based on the alignment of the employee's CTMS qualifications 
with the CTMS qualifications of an assignment. In matching a DHS-CS 
employee with a subsequent assignment, the Department may also 
consider:
    (i) Input from the employee;
    (ii) Input from DHS organizations, especially the primary DHS 
organization of the employee's current assignment;
    (iii) Information about the employee from the performance 
management program described in Sec.  158.802 and the career 
development program described in Sec.  158.803;
    (iv) Mission-related requirements; and
    (v) Strategic talent priorities.
    (2) A DHS-CS employee may have multiple assignments throughout the 
employee's service in a qualified position, but may only have one 
assignment at a time. A DHS-CS employee's subsequent assignments may 
have assignment information, described in Sec.  158.706(e), that is 
different than the assignment information of the employee's initial 
assignment, including primary DHS organization.
    (3) In alignment with the career development program described in 
Sec.  158.803 and based on information from development reviews 
described in Sec.  158.806 the Department communicates with DHS-CS 
employees on an ongoing basis about subsequent assignment 
opportunities;


Sec.  158.704  Official worksite.

    (a) Definition. A DHS-CS employee's official worksite is the 
geographic location where the employee regularly performs DHS-CS 
cybersecurity work or where the employee's DHS-CS cybersecurity work is 
based, as determined and documented by the Department under this 
section.
    (b) Determination. The Department determines a DHS-CS employee's 
official work site for purposes of administering compensation under 
this part, especially eligibility for any compensation described in 
Sec. Sec.  158.612 and 158.643. The Department's determination of a 
DHS-CS employee's official worksite includes consideration of any of 
the following for the employee: Telework, variation in location where 
the employee performs DHS-CS cybersecurity work, and temporary 
situations affecting the location where the employee performs DHS-CS 
cybersecurity work.
    (c) Documentation. Upon appointment of an individual to a qualified 
position, the Department documents the individual's official worksite 
as part of documenting the employee's appointment to a qualified 
position and the employee's assignment, as described in Sec.  158.706. 
The Department updates documentation of a DHS-CS employee's official 
worksite, if the geographic location where the DHS-CS employee 
regularly performs DHS-CS cybersecurity work changes and such change 
impacts the determination of the DHS-CS employee's official worksite 
under paragraph (a) of this section and such change is expected to 
last, or does last, for six months or more.


Sec.  158.705   Work scheduling.

    (a) Work scheduling system. The Secretary or designee establishes 
and administers a work scheduling system for DHS-CS employees to 
ensure:
    (1) Agility for the Department in scheduling DHS-CS cybersecurity 
work to execute the DHS cybersecurity mission;
    (2) Availability of DHS-CS employees to perform the DHS-CS 
cybersecurity work of their assignments;
    (3) Clear expectations for DHS-CS employees about when they are 
expected to perform DHS-CS cybersecurity work associated with their 
assignments;
    (4) Flexibility for DHS-CS employees in scheduling and performing 
DHS-CS cybersecurity work associated with their assignments; and
    (5) Recording of, accounting for, and monitoring of hours worked by 
DHS-CS employees.
    (b) Definitions. For purposes of this section--
    (1) Work period means a two-week period of 14 consecutive days that 
begins on a Sunday and ends on a Saturday, and is the equivalent of a 
biweekly pay period defined in 5 U.S.C. 5504 and 5 CFR part 550, 
subpart F.
    (2) Minimum hours of work means the minimum number of hours that a 
DHS-CS employee is required to work, or account for with time-off, 
during a work period, and is the equivalent to the term basic work 
requirement defined in 5 U.S.C. 6121.
    (3) Time-off means leave under Sec.  158.651, time-off under Sec.  
158.652, and recognition time-off under Sec.  158.633, or other time-
off of duty available for DHS-CS employees.
    (4) Full-time schedule means 80 hours per work period.
    (5) Part-time schedule means a specified number of hours less than 
80 hours per work period. When DHS-CS cybersecurity work associated 
with a DHS-CS employee's assignment regularly requires the DHS-CS 
employee to exceed that employee's specified number of hours per work 
period, the Department considers, with input from the employee and the 
employee's supervisor, whether to change the employee's work schedule 
from part-time to full-time to ensure appropriate compensation under 
this part, including accrual of leave under Sec.  158.651 and the DHS-
CS employee's share of health benefits premiums provided under Sec.  
158.653.
    (6) Contingent schedule means an irregular number of hours up to 80 
hours per work period. A contingent schedule is appropriate only when 
the DHS-CS cybersecurity work associated with a DHS-CS employee's 
assignment is sporadic and cannot be regularly scheduled in advance. 
When DHS-CS cybersecurity work associated with a DHS-CS employee's 
assignment is able to be scheduled in advance on a regular basis, the 
Department changes the employee's work schedule from contingent to 
part-time or full-time, as appropriate, to ensure appropriate 
compensation under this part, including accrual of leave under Sec.  
158.651 and the DHS-CS employee's share of health benefits premiums 
provided under Sec.  158.653.
    (c) Employee work schedules. (1) A DHS-CS employee's work schedule, 
and any minimum hours of work associated with the employee's schedule, 
is determined at the time of appointment and recorded as part of 
documenting the employee's appointment to a qualified position under 
Sec.  158.706. A DHS-CS employee on a contingent schedule does not have 
a minimum number of hours of work but has a maximum number of total 
hours for the employee's appointment that is determined at the time of 
appointment and recorded as part of documenting the employee's 
appointment to a qualified position under Sec.  158.706.
    (2) A DHS-CS employee's work schedule, and any minimum hours of 
work, may change during the employee's service in a qualified position 
and the Department records any such changes in the documentation 
associated with the employee's qualified position under Sec.  158.706.
    (d) Work schedule requirements. (1) DHS-CS employees are expected 
to perform DHS-CS cybersecurity work associated with their assignments 
to

[[Page 47909]]

execute the DHS cybersecurity mission, especially in response to 
exigent circumstances and emergencies, including cybersecurity 
incidents defined in 6 U.S.C. 659, without entitlement to more 
compensation than the employee's salary described in Sec.  158.603. 
Hours worked by a DHS-CS employee that exceed the employee's minimum 
hours of work do not affect the employee's salary or result in any 
automatic compensation, including a type of additional compensation.
    (2) A DHS-CS employee on a full-time schedule is expected to work 
at least 80 hours per work period.
    (3) A DHS-CS employee on a part-time schedule is expected to work 
at least the employee's specified number of hours of work per work 
period.
    (4) A DHS-CS employee on a contingent schedule is expected to work 
as necessary to perform the DHS-CS cybersecurity work associated with 
the employee's assignment, not to exceed the maximum number of total 
hours for the employee's appointment.
    (5) DHS-CS employees must report hours worked by the employee. The 
Department monitors such hours for purposes of managing the DHS-CS, 
including considering any changes to DHS-CS employees' schedules, and 
administering compensation, including assisting in consideration of any 
additional compensation for DHS-CS employees under Sec.  158.642.
    (6) A DHS-CS employee on a full-time schedule or a part-time 
schedule must account for minimum hours of work by the conclusion of 
the last day of the work period. If the hours worked by the employee 
are less than the employee's minimum hours of work, the employee must 
use time-off approved by the employee's supervisor, or must be placed 
in an appropriate non-pay status for the purposes described in 
paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section, to account for the 
difference between hours actually worked by the employee and the 
employee's minimum hours of work.
    (7) A DHS-CS employee on a full-time schedule or a part-time 
schedule, in coordination with the employee's supervisor, may adjust 
when work hours are completed in a given work period, to ensure time-
off for religious observance, while also completing minimum hours of 
work. A DHS-CS employee on a contingent schedule, in coordination with 
the employee's supervisor, may adjust when work hours are completed to 
ensure time-off for religious observance.
    (e) Hours worked and compensation. The Department uses the work 
scheduling system described in this section in administering 
compensation under this part, especially salary administration 
described in Sec.  158.622 and the compensation described in Sec. Sec.  
158.642, 158.650, 158.651, and 158.652. In alignment with the 
compensation strategy, described in Sec.  158.601, the work scheduling 
system:
    (1) Acknowledges the unpredictable nature of cybersecurity work and 
the expectation described in Sec.  158.601(c) about working unusual 
hours and extended hours as needed; and
    (2) Reflects an understanding of the cybersecurity talent market, 
especially current work expectations and arrangements.
    (f) Policy. CTMS policy implementing this section addresses:
    (1) Procedures for determining, recording, and updating as 
necessary, DHS-CS employees' work schedules;
    (2) Procedures for selecting and communicating anticipated work 
hours in advance and communicating variances from those work hours;
    (3) Requirements regarding reporting and monitoring hours worked;
    (4) Procedures for accounting for minimum hours of work; and
    (5) Other work scheduling requirements for DHS-CS employees, 
including DHS-CS employees supporting specific DHS organizations. Such 
requirements may include designated days, hours, core hours, or limits 
on the number of work hours per day;


Sec.  158.706  Recordkeeping.

    (a) Generally. The Department documents an individual's appointment 
to a qualified position and creates records of a DHS-CS employee's 
employment in the DHS-CS in compliance with 5 U.S.C. 2951 and 5 CFR 
subchapter A, part 9, and subchapter B, parts 293 and 297.
    (b) Documenting a qualified position. The Department documents a 
qualified position established under this part by documenting an 
individual's appointment to a qualified position. Such documentation 
includes a description of the individual's:
    (1) CTMS qualifications and the DHS-CS cybersecurity work that can 
be performed through application of those qualifications;
    (2) Applicable work and career structures established under the 
work valuation system described in Sec.  158.404;
    (3) Salary under the compensation system described in Sec.  
158.602;
    (3) Assignment information described in paragraph (e) of this 
section;
    (4) Official worksite described in Sec.  158.704; and
    (5) Work schedule described in Sec.  158.705.
    (c) Updating qualified position documentation. The Department 
updates the documentation associated with a DHS-CS employee's qualified 
position, described in paragraph (a) of this section, to reflect 
changes affecting the employee's qualified position, including any 
changes to the description of information listed in paragraph (a), such 
as enhancements to the employee's CTMS qualifications. Except as 
necessary for purposes of recordkeeping under this section, any update 
to the documentation associated with a DHS-CS employee's qualified 
position is not a promotion, transfer, or reassignment for any other 
purpose under 5 U.S.C. or 5 CFR.
    (d) Documenting an assignment. The Department documents a DHS-CS 
employee's initial assignment as part of documenting the employee's 
qualified position under this section. The Department updates the 
documentation associated with a DHS-CS employee's qualified position 
for each of the employee's subsequent assignments described in Sec.  
158.703.
    (e) Assignment information. Documentation of each assignment under 
this section includes the following operational information:
    (1) Statement of cybersecurity work activities;
    (2) Timeframe, such as anticipated duration;
    (3) Primary DHS organization;
    (4) Personnel security requirements;
    (5) Location, such as official worksite determined under Sec.  
158.704;
    (6) Information related to work scheduling under Sec.  158.705; and
    (7) Information related to the performance management program, 
including information relevant to appraisal reviews, mission impact 
reviews, and development reviews, described in subpart H of this part.
    (f) Integrating with existing processes. For purposes of 
recordkeeping for DHS-CS employees, including documenting positions and 
assignments under this section, the Department uses existing Federal 
personnel recordkeeping processes, standards, requirements, and systems 
of record. CTMS policy implementing this section addresses integration 
of the approach to talent management under this part, including 
definitions used in this part, with existing Federal personnel 
recordkeeping processes, standards, requirements, and systems of 
record, as necessary.

[[Page 47910]]

Sec.  158.707  Details and opportunities outside DHS.

    (a) DHS-CS employees serving in renewable appointments or 
continuing appointments may be detailed to:
    (1) A position in the excepted service in another agency under 31 
U.S.C. 1535;
    (2) A position in the SES in another agency under 5 CFR 317.903;
    (3) A position in the competitive service in another agency under 
31 U.S.C. 1535 and 5 CFR 300.301, if approved by the Director of the 
Office of Personnel Management;
    (4) Certain offices of the White House under 3 U.S.C.112;
    (5) The Congress under 2 U.S.C. 4301(f);
    (6) An international organization under 5 U.S.C. 3343; or
    (7) Another detail opportunity under other provisions of applicable 
law.
    (b) Individuals from outside the DHS-CS may not be detailed to a 
qualified position.
    (c) DHS-CS employees serving in continuing appointments may be 
assigned to eligible non-Federal organizations under the 
Intergovernmental Personnel Act in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3371-3375 
and 5 CFR part 334.


Sec.  158.708  Directed assignments.

    (a) Occasionally, the Department may direct a subsequent assignment 
of a DHS-CS employee, and such a directed subsequent assignment may 
require a change in the employee's official worksite, determined under 
Sec.  158.704. For such directed subsequent assignments of a DHS-CS 
employee, the Department pays or reimburses expenses or allowances 
under and in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations at 41 CFR 
chapters 301 and 302, and for such directed assignments that are not 
temporary, DHS provides notice to and consultation with the employee as 
described in this paragraph.
    (b) Directed subsequent assignments expected to last less than six 
months are considered temporary, and for purposes under the Federal 
Travel Regulations at 41 CFR chapters 301 and 302, are temporary duty.
    (c) For such directed subsequent assignments expected to last six 
months or more and with an official worksite in a DHS-CS employee's 
current commuting area, defined in 5 CFR 550.703, the Department 
provides the employee written notice at least 30 calendar days before 
the effective date of the subsequent assignment. This notice 
requirement may be waived only when the employee consents in writing.
    (d) For such directed subsequent assignments expected to last six 
months or more and with an official worksite outside of a DHS-CS 
employee's current commuting area, defined in 5 CFR 550.703, DHS 
consults with the employee on the reasons for, and the employee's 
preferences regarding, the proposed change in assignment. Following 
such consultation, the Department provides the employee written notice 
at least 90 calendar days before the effective date of the assignment. 
This notice requirement may be waived only when the employee consents 
in writing.


Sec.  158.709  Exemption from other laws regarding deployment.

    The provisions of laws, among other similar laws, listed in 
Sec. Sec.  158.405, 158.502, and 158.605 do not apply under CTMS, to 
the DHS-CS, or to talent management involving the individuals described 
in Sec.  158.103.

Subpart H--Developing Talent

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. Chapters 41 and 43; 5 CFR parts 410 and 
430.


Sec.  158.801  Definitions.

    As used in this subpart:
    Appraisal has the same meaning as that term in 5 CFR 430.203.
    Appraisal period has the same meaning as that term in 5 CFR 
430.203.
    Appraisal program has the same meaning as that term in 5 CFR 
430.203.
    Appraisal system and performance appraisal system have the same 
meanings as those terms in 5 CFR 430.203.
    Mission impact has the same meaning as defined in Sec.  158.104.
    Performance has the same meaning as that term in 5 CFR 430.203.
    Performance rating has the same meaning as that term in 5 CFR 
430.203.
    Progress review has the same meaning as that term in 5 CFR 430.203.
    Rating of record has the same meaning as that term in 5 CFR 
430.203.


Sec.  158.802  Performance management program.

    (a) In alignment with the DHS-CS's core values described in Sec.  
158.305 and the compensation strategy described in Sec.  158.601, the 
Secretary or designee establishes and administers a systematic 
performance management program to:
    (1) Establish and maintain individual accountability among DHS-CS 
employees;
    (2) Manage, recognize, and develop the performance of each DHS-CS 
employee; and
    (3) Improve effectiveness of DHS-CS employees in executing the DHS 
cybersecurity mission.
    (b) The performance management program comprises the following 
ongoing reviews:
    (1) Appraisal reviews described in Sec.  158.804;
    (2) Mission impact reviews described in Sec.  158.805; and
    (3) Development reviews described in Sec.  158.806.
    (c) To complete appraisal reviews, mission impact reviews, and 
development reviews for a DHS-CS employee, the Department may collect, 
on a periodic or ongoing basis, information and input from:
    (1) The DHS-CS employee;
    (2) Other DHS-CS employees;
    (3) The employee's supervisor; and
    (4) Other appropriate officials.


Sec.  158.803  Career development program.

    (a) Career development program. In alignment with the DHS-CS's core 
values described in Sec.  158.305 and the compensation strategy 
described in Sec.  158.601, the Secretary or designee establishes and 
administers a career development program to:
    (1) Guide the career progression of each DHS-CS employee;
    (2) Ensure development of the collective expertise of DHS-CS 
employees through continual learning; and
    (3) Ensure continued alignment between the qualifications of DHS-CS 
employees and CTMS qualifications.
    (b) Career progression. Career progression in the DHS-CS is based 
on enhancement of CTMS qualifications and salary progression resulting 
from recognition adjustments under Sec.  158.631. Career progression in 
the DHS-CS is not based on length of service in the DHS-CS or the 
Federal Government. The Department guides the career progression of 
DHS-CS employees using development strategies based on:
    (1) Information from development reviews, described in Sec.  
158.806;
    (2) Mission-related requirements; and
    (3) Strategic talent priorities.
    (c) Commitment to continual learning. The Department establishes, 
maintains, and communicates criteria for continual learning. Such 
criteria include recommended and required learning activities, 
including completion of specific courses of study, completion of 
mission-related training defined in 5 CFR 410.101, performance of 
certain DHS-CS cybersecurity work as part of assignments, and 
participation in opportunities for professional development and 
training described in Sec.  158.640. The Department aims to utilize all 
available opportunities for DHS-CS employee development,

[[Page 47911]]

including opportunities under this part and under or based on 
authorities in 5 U.S.C. and 5 CFR relating to continual learning, 
professional development, and training, as appropriate.
    (d) Verification of qualifications enhancements. The Department 
verifies DHS-CS employees' enhancement of CTMS qualifications, which 
may include review by the CTMB or assessment using standardized 
instruments and procedures designed to measure the extent to which a 
DHS-CS employee has enhanced the employee's qualifications. 
Verification of enhancement to CTMS qualifications may require updating 
the documentation associated with the employee's qualified position, as 
described in Sec.  158.706.


Sec.  158.804  Appraisal reviews.

    (a) Under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 43 and 5 CFR part 430, the Department 
establishes an appraisal program to review and evaluate the performance 
of DHS-CS employees to ensure DHS-CS employees' individual 
accountability.
    (b) The appraisal program for DHS-CS employees includes one or more 
progress reviews, as defined in 5 CFR 430.203, and an appraisal of an 
employee's performance that results in a rating of record, as defined 
in 5 CFR 430.203.
    (c) The Department addresses unacceptable performance, as defined 
in 5 U.S.C. 4301(3), under the provisions of 5 CFR part 432 or part 
752. The CTMB may assist with any decision, or action, or both, made 
under the authority in this section and 5 CFR part 430 and 5 CFR part 
432 or 752.
    (d) If the Department determines a DHS-CS employee's performance is 
unacceptable or the employee receives an unacceptable rating of record, 
the employee is ineligible to receive recognition under Sec. Sec.  
158.630 through 158.634 and the employee may be excluded from mission 
impact reviews under Sec.  158.805.


Sec.  158.805  Mission impact reviews.

    (a) The Department reviews a DHS-CS employee's mission impact 
throughout the employee's service in the DHS-CS and generates a mission 
impact summary at least annually. The Department may conduct mission 
impact reviews concurrently with development reviews.
    (b) In reviewing a DHS-CS employee's mission impact, individually 
or as part of a group of DHS-CS employees, or both, the Department 
considers factors such as:
    (1) Superior application of CTMS qualifications to perform DHS-CS 
cybersecurity work;
    (2) Significant enhancements to CTMS qualifications;
    (3) Special contributions to cybersecurity technologies, 
techniques, tactics, or procedures; and
    (4) Notable improvements to execution of the DHS cybersecurity 
mission.
    (c) The Department uses mission impact summary information to make 
distinctions among DHS-CS employees, such as comparing, categorizing, 
and ranking DHS-CS employees on the basis of mission impact to support 
decisions related to recognition for DHS-CS employees under Sec. Sec.  
158.630 through 158.634.


Sec.  158.806  Development reviews.

    (a) The Department reviews a DHS-CS employee's career progression, 
as described in Sec.  158.803(b) throughout the employee's service in 
the DHS-CS. The Department generates a development summary, at least 
annually, which may include plans for a DHS-CS employee's continual 
learning in alignment with the criteria for continual learning under 
the career development program described in Sec.  158.803.
    (b) As part of development reviews, the Department may compare, 
categorize, and rank DHS-CS employees to support decisions related to 
professional development and training under Sec.  158.640. The 
Department may also use information from development reviews in 
matching subsequent assignments under Sec.  158.703. The Department may 
conduct development reviews concurrently with mission impact reviews.

Subpart I--Employee Rights, Requirements, and Input


Sec.  158.901  Federal employee rights and processes.

    (a) Adverse actions: Nothing in this part affects the rights of CS 
employees under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 75, 5 U.S.C. 4303, and 5 CFR parts 432 
and 752.
    (b) Reductions in force. The provisions of 5 U.S.C. Chapter 35, 
Subchapter I and 5 CFR part 351 regarding reductions in force apply to 
talent management actions taken under this part.
    (c) Redress with third parties. Nothing in this part affects the 
rights, as provided by law, of a DHS-CS employee to seek review before 
a third party of a talent management action taken under this part 
involving that employee, including seeking review before the:
    (1) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, regarding 
discrimination under Federal anti-discrimination laws;
    (2) Merit Systems Protection Board, regarding matters such as 
adverse actions under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 75 or Chapter 43 and individual 
rights of action under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 12;
    (3) Office of Special Counsel, regarding matters such as 
whistleblower retaliation and other prohibited personnel practices 
under 5 U.S.C. 2302 and the Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. 7321 et seq.); and
    (4) Department of Labor, regarding matters covered by the Uniformed 
Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (38 U.S.C. 4301 et 
seq.).
    (d) Back pay. Back pay remains available under 5 U.S.C. 5596 and 5 
CFR part 550, subpart H, for unjustified or unwarranted talent 
management actions.


Sec.  158.902  Ethics requirements.

    (a) DHS-CS employees, including such employees providing 
uncompensated service and DHS-CS advisory appointees, are employees 
covered by the Ethics in Government Act section 101(f)(3), and are 
subject to the criminal conflict of interest rules as well as 
government ethics requirements applicable to Federal employees, 
including:
    (1) Criminal conflict of interest provisions in 18 U.S.C. 201-209;
    (2) Ethics in Government Act, as amended, and implementing 
regulations in 5 CFR, Chapter XVI, Subchapter B, including financial 
disclosure reporting in 5 CFR part 2634 and the Standards of Ethical 
Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch in 5 CFR part 2635;
    (3) Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the 
Department of Homeland Security in 5 CFR part 4601; and
    (4) Department policy.
    (b) Under the ethics requirements described in paragraph (a) of 
this section, DHS-CS employees must seek approval for certain outside 
activities, comply with ethics program requirements, and other 
applicable laws, including post-government employment restrictions.


Sec.  158.903  Employee input program.

    (a) Program. The Department establishes and administers a program 
for DHS-CS employees to express employment-related concerns and 
recommendations for enhancing CTMS administration and DHS-CS 
management. Under such a program, a DHS-CS employee may request review 
of certain talent management actions

[[Page 47912]]

related to the employee's employment in the DHS-CS or related to the 
processes, systems, and programs established under this part, or both. 
The Cybersecurity Talent Management Board may use information from this 
program for the periodic evaluation of CTMS described in Sec.  158.302.
    (b) Policy. CTMS policy implementing this section addresses:
    (1) Talent management actions covered by the employee input 
program;
    (2) The process for DHS-CS employees to express input; and
    (3) The interaction of the employee input program with relevant 
processes for redress with third parties of employment-related actions, 
including those described in Sec.  158.901.

Subpart J--Advisory Appointments


Sec.  158.1001  Advisory appointments and advisory appointees.

    (a) An advisory appointment is an appointment to a qualified 
position that:
    (1) The Secretary determines is of a policy-determining, policy-
making, or policy-advocating character or involves a close and 
confidential working relationship with the Secretary or other key 
appointed officials;
    (2) Does not have a salary set by statute; and
    (3) Is not required to be filled by an appointment by the 
President.
    (b) An advisory appointment to a qualified position is treated as a 
Schedule C position under 5 CFR 213.3301 except regarding appointment 
and compensation. Talent management for a DHS-CS advisory appointee is 
in accordance with the provisions of 5 CFR applicable to Schedule C 
appointees, except that appointment and compensation for a DHS-CS 
advisory appointee is governed by this part.
    (c) Employment restrictions such as those concerning the criminal 
conflict of interest statutes, standards of ethical conduct, partisan 
political activity, and contained in laws such as Executive Orders, 
government-wide ethics regulations and the Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. 7321 et 
seq.), apply to a DHS-CS advisory appointee as if the employee were a 
Schedule C appointee.
    (d) The Department tracks and coordinates advisory appointments 
with the Executive Office of the President and the Office of Personnel 
Management (OPM), as appropriate.


Sec.  158.1002  Appointment of advisory appointees.

    (a) Appointment of an individual, including a former DHS-CS 
employee, to an advisory appointment is governed by this subpart J and 
subpart E of this part.
    (b) An individual for appointment to an advisory appointment must 
participate in the assessment program described in Sec.  158.520. The 
Secretary or designee must approve the appointment of an individual to 
an advisory appointment by name, and an individual appointed to an 
advisory appointment serves at the will of the Secretary.
    (c) A DHS-CS advisory appointee may be removed at any time. In 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 7511(b), the provisions of 5 U.S.C. Chapter 
75, subchapter II do not apply to talent management actions taken under 
this part for a DHS advisory appointee.
    (d) An advisory appointment terminates no later than the end of the 
term of the U.S. President under which the advisory appointee was 
appointed.
    (e) The Secretary or designee establishes a limit on the number of 
advisory appointments under this subpart J, and the total number of 
advisory appointments under this subpart may not exceed that limit at 
any time.
    (f) The Department may not change an advisory appointment to a 
renewable appointment or continuing appointment.
    (g) The Department may not use an advisory appointment solely or 
primarily for the purpose of detailing any individual to the White 
House.


Sec.  158.1003  Compensation for advisory appointees.

    (a) General. Compensation for a DHS-CS advisory appointee is 
governed by this subpart J and subpart F of this part. A DHS-CS 
advisory appointee may provide uncompensated service and any such 
service is gratuitous service.
    (b) Compensation. As compensation for service in the DHS-CS, a DHS-
CS advisory appointee receives a salary as described in paragraph (c) 
this section, unless the appointee is providing uncompensated service. 
A DHS-CS advisory appointee, except such an employee providing 
uncompensated service, may also receive additional compensation as 
described in paragraph (d) of this paragraph.
    (c) Salary. A DHS-CS advisory appointee receives a salary under the 
salary system described in Sec.  158.610.
    (1) Setting salary. The Department determines the salary for an 
individual accepting an advisory appointment to a qualified position 
under Sec.  158.620.
    (2) Adjusting salary. The Department determines any adjustments to 
salary of a DHS-CS advisory appointee under Sec.  158.621.
    (3) Extended range. A DHS-CS advisory appointee is ineligible for a 
salary in the extended range.
    (4) Local cybersecurity talent market supplement. The Department 
may provide a DHS-CS advisory appointee a local cybersecurity talent 
market supplement under Sec.  158.612.
    (d) Additional compensation. In alignment with the compensation 
strategy in Sec.  158.601, the Department may provide the following 
types of additional compensation to a DHS-CS advisory appointee for the 
purposes of each such type as described under this part and subject to 
the requirements of this section. An individual appointed to an 
advisory appointment is ineligible to receive any type of additional 
compensation under this part as part of an offer of employment in the 
DHS-CS.
    (1) Types. Additional compensation under CTMS for a DHS-CS advisory 
appointee is:
    (i) Recognition adjustments under Sec.  158.631, except the 
Secretary or designee must approve any such recognition for a DHS-CS 
advisory appointee;
    (ii) Recognition payments under Sec.  158.632, except the Secretary 
or designee must approve any such recognition for a DHS-CS advisory 
appointee;
    (iii) Recognition time-off under Sec.  158.633, except the 
Secretary or designee must approve any such recognition for a DHS-CS 
advisory appointee;
    (iv) Honorary recognition under Sec.  158.634;
    (v) Professional development and training under Sec.  158.640, so 
long as a professional development and training program described in 
Sec.  158.640 explicitly covers DHS-CS advisory appointee and prohibits 
such employees from receiving any payment or reimbursement for costs of 
academic degree training or expenses to obtain professional 
credentials, including examinations to obtain such credentials;
    (vi) Allowances in nonforeign areas under Sec.  158.643; and
    (vii) Other types of compensation, including leave and benefits, 
authorized under Sec. Sec.  158.650 through 158.655 and provided in 
accordance with relevant provisions of other laws.
    (2) Combining types. A DHS-CS advisory appointee may receive any 
type of additional compensation described in paragraph (c)(1) of this 
section in combination with any other such type subject to the 
requirements of subpart F of this part and the requirements and 
restrictions of this section.

[[Page 47913]]

    (3) Restrictions. Additional compensation described in paragraph 
(d)(1) of this section is subject to, and may be limited by:
    (i) The aggregate compensation limit described in Sec.  158.604;
    (ii) Prohibitions in 5 U.S.C. 4508, guidance from the Office of 
Management and Budget and Office of Personnel Management, and any other 
provisions of law governing compensation for political appointees; and
    (iii) Other requirements and restrictions in CTMS policy.
    (e) Compensation administration. For purposes of administering 
compensation under this part for a DHS-CS advisory appointee, the 
Department administers salary and other compensation, including leave, 
based on consideration of the employee's work schedule under the work 
scheduling system described in Sec.  158.705, and may convert the 
appointee's salary into an hourly rate, biweekly rate, or other rate.

Alejandro N. Mayorkas,
Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2021-17824 Filed 8-25-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9112-FC-P