National Talent Strategy Act of 2026

(29 U.S.C. 3102)), education officials from secondary schools (as defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)), postsecondary schools, and area career and technical education schools (as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302)), institutions of higher education, and Tribal leaders, which shall include direct conversations and the collection and consideration of recommendations; (6) host regional meetings to better understand varied needs for job development across the Nation; and (7) ensure that workforce programs are aligned with updates to the President's List of Critical and Emerging Technologies (CET) and consider related skills needs and talent development strategies. (d) Sunset.--The Working Group shall cease to exist effective on the date that is 8 years after the date of enactment of this Act, unless reauthorized by an Act of Congress. SEC. 3. COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL STRATEGIC PLAN. (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the Working Group and with representatives from industries and labor organizations (as defined in section 2 of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152)) that are connected with Federal workforce development programs, shall develop a comprehensive Federal strategic talent plan covering a 4-year period that shall serve as a strategic planning document for all Federal agencies engaged in workforce development activities. (b) Evaluation of Workforce Programs Across the Federal Government.-- (1) In general.--The Federal strategic talent plan developed under subsection (a) shall-- (A) evaluate all workforce programs across the Federal Government; (B) provide analysis on program participation, program outcomes for participants, and program effectiveness in meeting statutory goals; (C) provide analysis on larger indicators, including unemployment, earnings growth, and labor participation; (D) identify areas of overlap among programs; and (E) identify areas where programs could have more efficient strategic alignment. (2) Insight from report.--The evaluation described in paragraph (1) shall leverage relevant insights from the Government Accountability Office report ``Employment and Training Programs: Department of Labor Should Assess Efforts to Coordinate Services Across Programs'', GAO-19-200, March 2019, including from any updates to such report. (c) Identification and Evaluation of Barriers.-- (1) In general.--The Federal strategic talent plan developed under subsection (a) shall-- (A) identify and evaluate barriers to national workforce readiness with a focus on the areas described in paragraph (2); and (B) identify the capacity of existing national workforce development programs to support reducing the identified barriers. (2) Focus areas.--The areas described in this paragraph are the following: (A) Industries projected to have significant job growth in the next decade, including those identified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as the fastest- growing occupations. (B) Industries in sectors critical to national success facing significant workforce shortages. (C) Industries of importance to global economic competitiveness. (D) Domestic manufacturing and industrial capacity. (E) Industries that offer consistent, high-wage career pathways for workers. (F) Industries of importance to national security, national defense, and research and development capacity, including areas listed under the Critical and Emerging Technologies (CET) List, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency critical infrastructures sectors, and the key technology focus areas under section 10387 of the CHIPS Act of 2022 (42 U.S.C. 19107). (G) Members of the Armed Forces transitioning to civilian employment or serving in the National Guard or Reserves, and veterans reentering the civilian workforce. (H) Workers in occupations and industries most susceptible to disruption from automation, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies. (3) Interagency strategic plan.--The Federal strategic talent plan developed under subsection (a) shall create an interagency strategic plan to-- (A) address barriers identified in paragraph (1) through existing or new Federal workforce development initiatives; (B) improve cross-agency implementation of programs; (C) increase labor force participation across populations; (D) increase the reach of Federal workforce programs to populations such programs are intended to serve; (E) identify and obtain data that is necessary to improve Federal workforce development programs and supports for workers; (F) increase utilization of apprenticeships registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the ``National Apprenticeship Act''; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.); and (G) support workers affected by automation or other disruptive impacts of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies through re-skilling, upskilling, and educational opportunities. (4) Recommendations.--The Federal strategic talent plan developed under subsection (a) shall include recommendations to Congress to resolve inefficiencies and address barriers in Federal workforce development programs. (d) Submission and Update.-- (1) In general.--The Federal strategic talent plan developed under subsection (a) shall be submitted to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. (2) Updates.--The Federal strategic talent plan developed under subsection (a) shall be reviewed and updated not less often than once every 2 years and updated in its entirety not less often than once every 4 years. Each such update shall be submitted to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. (e) Sunset.--The Federal strategic talent plan developed under subsection (a) shall cease to exist effective on the date that is 8 years after the date of enactment of this Act, unless reauthorized by an Act of Congress. SEC. 4. EVALUATIONS. At the end of the 4-year period described in section 3(a), the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Working Group and the Federal strategic talent plan developed under section 3(a), including an assessment of the degree of participation of participants in the Working Group and the success of the Federal agencies engaged in workforce development activities in meaningfully executing the Federal strategic talent plan. The Comptroller General shall conduct an additional evaluation of each update of the Federal strategic talent plan described in section 3(d)(2). <all>