As the technology sector continues to conduct large layoffs, the National Security Agency has begun advertising its open roles to current and former employees of major technology firms, the Washington Times reported on Friday.

Last month, the agency launched a large-scale hiring effort in which the organization is seeking staff to fill more than 3,000 openings surrounding computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, intelligence analysis and business, among others.

According to Christine Parker, talent management senior strategist for NSA, these layoffs offer an opportunity to expand the agency’s workforce as technology employees search for new positions.

“NSA started reaching out through LinkedIn, through some of our career boards, specifically sending messages to people that we thought might be linked to some companies that either were in the news saying they are going to lay off or were predicted to be laid off,” she said.

She noted that these efforts resulted in approximately 2,000 applications.

Planned technology industry layoffs have reached tens of thousands. In November, Meta disclosed that it will decrease its workforce by 11,000. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has announced future layoffs of around 12,000 people and Amazon intends to shrink its workforce by 18,000.

Molly Moore, NSA’s deputy director of workforce support activities, cited stability and opportunities for variety in work as key promotional points in the agency’s hiring efforts.

“We certainly offer stability, and that’s what’s really kind of front of mind for a lot of people these days in the wake of these layoffs,” she said.

“But we offer amazing missions, things that people can’t do in private-sector companies for the most part. This is not just a job; it’s a mission,” Moore continued.

To attract talent, the NSA is relaxing some of its strict hiring requirements, such as those regarding marijuana use.

In a tweet posted by NSA Cybersecurity Director and two-time Wash100 Award winner Rob Joyce, he said that applicants will not be immediately rejected for past marijuana use, but they must also discontinue use to be hired by the agency.

The agency launched this effort in part as a response to growing adversary threats. According to a Brookings Institution report published last month, a Russian hacker conference has grown to 8,700 attendees at its 2022 event, a massive increase from its attendance of only 500 in 2011.

Despite job cuts from industry giants, staffing firm Robert Half stated that 70 percent of managers at midsize technology organizations are preparing to grow and create new positions this year, which may create competition for NSA. By the firm’s standards, midsize companies are those with annual revenues of $50 million to $1 billion.

The Small Business Administration will award up to $13 million in funding to accelerate the growth of science, technology, engineering and mathematics-focused entrepreneurs and start-ups.

SBA said Thursday the 2023 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition aims to support STEM businesses by expanding their access to capital and resources and boosting partnerships among entrepreneurs, advisers, mentors, investors and corporations.

Cash prizes will be awarded in two stages, with the first stage allocating $50,000 for organizations to establish growth accelerator partnerships.

During the second stage, SBA will award $50,000 to $150,000 in cash prizes to selected growth accelerator partnerships to support the commercialization of research and development ideas.

“These awards reflect a priority across the Biden-Harris Administration to advance equity by incentivizing greater collaboration and partnership among stakeholders and supporting the development of inclusive growth accelerators that will empower underserved entrepreneurs,” said Bailey DeVries, associate administrator of investment and innovation at SBA.

The agency will a series of informational online webinars in February to provide detailed information on the competition.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has signed a memorandum of understanding with the American Society of Civil Engineers that attempts to address climate change through building and infrastructure design and construction.

As part of the agreement, NOAA’s products and scientific data will be applied to ASCE’s standards, best practices, and building and civil engineering codes, the agency said Thursday.

“Sustained partnerships like this one are key to this effort, and will help foster a Climate-Ready Nation where individuals, businesses and communities have the knowledge and tools to take action to mitigate risk and support economic growth,” NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad remarked.

Partially administered by UMD, the collaboration and the MoU aim to advance sustainable infrastructure, especially in vulnerable populations such as low-income communities.

The MoU was prompted by NOAA’s findings that atmospheric-related disasters accounted for $165 billion in total damages in 2022 alone—the third biggest annual sum on record.

The NOAA Climate Program Office initially teamed up with ASCE and the University of Maryland Center for Technology and Systems Management in 2021 to work toward climate-resilient infrastructure.

Lt. Gen. Clinton Hinote, deputy chief of staff for strategy, integration and requirements at the U.S. Air Force, has called upon the Defense Innovation Board to use its influence to help facilitate the adoption of innovative technologies for military applications, Defense One reported Thursday.

According to Hinote, the board must map out competing incentives that guide defense acquisition players to identify barriers and seek opportunities to address longstanding cultural and structural concerns.

“If we’re not incentivized to fight better so that we can save lives and defend the country better, then I don’t know what we have to do, but we’ve got to do something because the incentives right now are lined up against rapid, scalable progress,” Hinote said.

He also noted that the Department of Defense must be transparent with congressional stakeholders and flexible in spending money and sharing intellectual property with allies and partners.

The Defense Innovation Board is reviewing the Pentagon’s upcoming National Defense Science and Technology Strategy, which is primarily concerned with hypersonics, quantum science and other technology focus areas.