DHS Hamstrings Itself in Quest to Hire Top Cyber Security Talent (April 26, 2014) 

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) faces challenges in attracting and retaining top cyber security talent. A lengthy hiring process means applicants have to wait months to be hired. The agency does not offer compensation commensurate with salaries offered by private industry. DHS's own policies and procedures hamper its hiring ability. Much of what the agency does is not secret, but because the work is conducted in a classified facility, the work is classified as secret. If the non-secret work were to be declassified, the hiring process could take much less time. DHS also gives the most coveted jobs, such as forensics investigation and intrusion and detection engineers, to outside contractors. 

Source:  http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/26/usa-cybersecurity-dhs-idUSL2N0NH18920140426