6 U.S.C. § 665a (DOMESTIC SECURITY)
§ 665a. Intelligence and cybersecurity diversity fellowship program
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of Congress
The term “appropriate committees of Congress” means—
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Homeland Security and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.
(2) Excepted service
The term “excepted service” has the meaning given that term in section 2103 of title 5.
(3) Historically Black college or university
The term “historically Black college or university” has the meaning given the term “part B institution” in section 1061 of title 20.
(4) Institution of higher education
The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given that term in section 1001 of title 20.
(5) Minority-serving institution
The term “minority-serving institution” means an institution of higher education described in section 1067q(a) of title 20.
(b) Program
The Secretary shall carry out an intelligence and cybersecurity diversity fellowship program (in this section referred to as the “Program”) under which an eligible individual may—
(1) participate in a paid internship at the Department that relates to intelligence, cybersecurity, or some combination thereof;
(2) receive tuition assistance from the Secretary; and
(3) upon graduation from an institution of higher education and successful completion of the Program (as defined by the Secretary), receive an offer of employment to work in an intelligence or cybersecurity position of the Department that is in the excepted service.
(c) Eligibility
To be eligible to participate in the Program, an individual shall—
(1) be a citizen of the United States; and
(2) as of the date of submitting the application to participate in the Program—
(A) have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale;
(B) be a socially disadvantaged individual (as that term in 1 defined in section 124.103 of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulation); and
(C) be a sophomore, junior, or senior at an institution of higher education.
(d) Direct hire authority
If an individual who receives an offer of employment under subsection (b)(3) accepts such offer, the Secretary shall appoint, without regard to provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5 (except for section 3328 of such title) such individual to the position specified in such offer.
(e) Reports
(1) Reports
Not later than 1 year after December 27, 2020, and on an annual basis thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the Program.
(2) Matters
Each report under paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to the most recent year, the following:
(A) A description of outreach efforts by the Secretary to raise awareness of the Program among institutions of higher education in which eligible individuals are enrolled.
(B) Information on specific recruiting efforts conducted by the Secretary to increase participation in the Program.
(C) The number of individuals participating in the Program, listed by the institution of higher education in which the individual is enrolled at the time of participation, and information on the nature of such participation, including on whether the duties of the individual under the Program relate primarily to intelligence or to cybersecurity.
(D) The number of individuals who accepted an offer of employment under the Program and an identification of the element within the Department to which each individual was appointed.
(Pub. L. 107–296, title XIII, § 1333, as added Pub. L. 116–260, div. W, title IV, § 404(a), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2378.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Codification
text: Section was enacted as part of title XIII of Pub. L. 107–296, and not as part of title XXII of 107–296 which comprises this subchapter.