The Trump administration on Monday unveiled the "U.S. Tech Force" initiative Monday, recruiting approximately 1,000 engineers and technology specialists to work on artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and other technology projects across federal agencies. The program partners with major technology companies including Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp., Amazon.com Inc.’s cloud unit Amazon Web Service (AWS), Alphabet Inc.’s Google, and NvidiaCorp. to modernize government systems and strengthen America's position in the global technology race.
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Participants will commit to two-year employment terms, working in teams reporting directly to agency leadership. Annual salaries are expected to range from approximately $150,000 to $200,000, plus benefits. Applications opened Monday, with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) aiming to place most members of the first cohort in roles by the first quarter of 2026.
The initiative marks an escalation in the administration's focus on developing America's AI capabilities amid competition with China. The announcement came four days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a national AI policy framework. The administration has sought to implement AI to modernize systems across the federal government, including through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) launched earlier this year under Elon Musk.
Upon completing the program, Tech Force members can seek full-time positions with participating companies, which have committed to consider program alumni for employment. Private sector partners can also nominate their employees for government service stints.
Addressing Government's Technical Talent Gap
The program aims to close a critical early-career talent gap across federal agencies, according to Scott Kupor, director of the OPM, which is spearheading the initiative. "We're trying to reshape the workforce to make sure we have the right talent on the right problems," Kupor told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Monday morning.
OPM plans to hire software engineers, data scientists, project managers, and AI experts to be placed across government agencies. The office will conduct initial reviews and technical assessments of applicants, then recommend approved candidates to agencies for final interviews and hiring decisions. A traditional degree is not required, with candidates demonstrating technical skills through work experience, projects, or certifications.
"If you're thinking about, long term, a career in technology, there is no bigger and more complex set of problems than we face in the federal government," Kupor said in a call with reporters. He emphasized competitiveness on compensation given the intense race for talent in these areas.
Scope of Work and Agency Participation
The engineering corps will work on "high-impact technology initiatives including AI implementation, application development, data modernization, and digital service delivery across federal agencies," according to the official government website. Specific projects include incorporating advanced AI into drones and other weapons at the Department of Defense, building out the Trump Accounts platform at the Internal Revenue Service, and using AI to improve intelligence at the State Department.
Tech Force participants will be placed across various federal agencies including the Departments of War, Treasury, State, Labor, Commerce, Energy, Health and Human Services, Interior, Housing & Urban Development, Transportation, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs, in addition to the Small Business Administration, International Revenue Service (IRS), Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, OPM, and General Services Administration (GSA).
These are not political appointments but rather federal employment positions based on technical qualifications, serving in non-partisan roles focused on technology implementation.
Private Sector Partnerships and Career Development
The program partners with approximately 25 technology companies providing mentorship and career planning advice. The initial roster of private sector partners includes Adobe, AWS, AMD, Anduril, Apple, Box, C3.ai, Coinbase, Databricks, Dell Technologies, Docusign, Google Public Sector, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, OpenAI, Oracle, Palantir, Salesforce, SAP, ServiceNow, Snowflake, Robinhood, Uber, Workday, xAI, and Zoom.
Throughout the two-year program, OPM plans to bring in Silicon Valley CEOs and other executives for speaker events. The program will conclude with a job fair offering both public- and private-sector opportunities. "Part of what we want to do is be competitive on compensation," Kupor said, adding that participants "are going to learn a bunch, they're going to tackle really complex problems, and then they can ultimately go back to the private sector, if that's what they want to do."
The effort represents a significant expansion from the Biden administration's similar initiative, which resulted in about 200 hires, with approximately 75 remaining in government roles, according to Kupor.
