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The United States government is introducing a new initiative to recruit early-career professionals in technology and artificial intelligence, aiming to bolster the public sector amid the Trump administration’s push to update federal operations and maintain a competitive edge in international technology advancements.
Officials announced the creation of the US Tech Force program on Monday, intended to fill critical shortages in technical expertise and young talent throughout various government departments, said Scott Kupor, head of the Office of Personnel Management, which is leading the effort. This move occurs during an intense competition for AI specialists, where private tech firms lure experts with high pay and attractive benefits, as seen in ongoing industry hiring drives.
The program will bring on board an initial group of 1,000 individuals, including software developers, data analysts, program coordinators and AI specialists, for two-year assignments distributed among federal agencies. Organizers also intend to collaborate with technology firms to encourage junior leaders to temporarily step away from corporate positions and participate in the initiative.
Considering a future in tech, Kupor told journalists during a briefing before the launch, no organization presents a more vast and challenging array of issues than the federal government.
The Trump administration has prioritized integrating AI to streamline and enhance efficiency in government functions, including through the Department of Government Efficiency, a once-centralized unit started by Elon Musk that officials described last month as now functioning in a more distributed manner.
In July, President Donald Trump endorsed an AI strategy outlining various steps and guidelines focused on expanding American AI capabilities and reducing regulatory hurdles to boost national edge in the field. The president further solidified this approach with a December executive order limiting state-level AI oversight.
Participants in the US Tech Force will support specific tasks outlined by agency heads. The personnel office will screen candidates through preliminary evaluations and skill checks before referring qualified ones to departments for ultimate selection and onboarding.
Recruitment begins Monday, with expectations to assign the majority of the debut participants to positions by the opening months of 2026.
According to Kupor, those involved could contribute to efforts like embedding cutting-edge AI in military drones and armaments at the Defense Department, developing the Trump Accounts system at the Internal Revenue Service, and refining intelligence operations with AI at the State Department, alongside numerous other projects.
During the program’s duration, the office plans to host talks featuring chief executives and leaders from Silicon Valley. It will team up with about 25 technology enterprises for guidance and professional development support. Companies committing to involvement include Microsoft, Adobe, Amazon, Meta and xAI.
The two-year stint will wrap up with a career expo offering pathways in both government and industry roles. Compensation for program participants should fall between roughly $130,000 and $195,000 annually.
We recognize the fierce pursuit of such skills, Kupor noted, adding that the goal is to match rivals in pay while emphasizing the chance to gain substantial knowledge, solve intricate challenges and later return to corporate settings with enhanced prospects for advancement and earnings if desired.
