The FBI Next Generation Cyber Initiative program has been unable to attract sufficient job applicants because of low wages, an internal watchdog report shows. The average salary offered to a cybersecurity expert by FBI is significantly lower than that offered to candidates in the private sector, according to the Office of the Inspector General.
“We found that the FBI faces challenges when competing with the private sector to hire and retain highly qualified cybersecurity personnel, including computer scientists,” Inspector General Michael Horowitz stated in a video attached to the report.
The IG’s report also revealed there are no computer experts at five out of 56 FBI offices nationwide, even though there are cyber task forces set up at all branches.
“The FBI has also had difficulty attracting state and local law enforcement agencies to participate in these local Cyber Task Forces,” Horowitz added.
The US Justice Department has declared cybersecurity across the country to be one of Washington’s most important objectives, as the number of hack attacks in the US has increased dramatically in recent years.
According to statistics, roughly 22 million US citizens, or 7 percent the country’s population, have been affected by such attacks, Reuters reported.
