Trump launches US Tech Force to recruit 1,000 AI specialists from Apple, Google, and Microsoft

Trump is recruiting Big Tech workers for the government

President Donald Trump will recruit workers from Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and other tech giants to form the US Tech Force, a new program that aims to "modernize the federal government," according to an announcement on Monday. Under the new program, Trump plans to hire around 1,000 technology specialists to work across federal agencies for an up to two-year period. Workers can then pursue employment with the companies partnering with Tech Force, or apply to continue working for the government. The Tech Force will work to "accelerate the use of AI" to make the government "more responsible and efficient," as well as develop apps and modernize data systems. In addition to nabbing workers from Big Tech companies, the Tech Force will hire "early career candidates." Adobe, AMD, OpenAI, Robinhood, Uber, Nvidia, xAI, Zoom, and others will also participate in the program. The Tech Force seems like Trump's own twist on the US Digital Service (USDS), the agency that the administration effectively dismantled to create the Department of Government Efficiency earlier this year. Former President Barack Obama formed the USDS in 2014 as a way to work with federal agencies to improve their digital services. But shortly after coming into office, Trump folded the USDS into the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) before renaming it to the DOGE Service and firing dozens of workers at the agency. The administration has sought to cut large parts of the federal government, including its tech talent, pushing out many workers and demoralizing the ones who remain. Now, the Trump administration is turning to some of the nation's biggest tech companies to revamp the technology used by the government. In June, the US Army similarly brought on executives from Meta, OpenAI, Palantir, and Thinking Machines Lab to advise the military branch on tech. And the focus on AI is a long-standing Trump administration priority. Last week, Trump signed an executive order that orders federal agencies to challenge state-level AI regulation.

Trump admin to hire 1,000 specialists for 'Tech Force' to build AI, finance projects

OPM Director Scott Kupor on the launch of U.S. tech force program The Trump administration on Monday unveiled a new initiative dubbed the "U.S. Tech Force," comprising about 1,000 engineers and other specialists who will work on artificial intelligence infrastructure and other technology projects throughout the federal government. Participants will commit to a two-year employment program working with teams that report directly to agency leaders in "collaboration with leading technology companies," according to an official government website. Those "private sector partners" include Amazon Web Services, Apple, Google Public Sector, Dell Technologies, Microsoft, Nvidia, OpenAI, Oracle, Palantir, Salesforce and numerous others, the website says. The Tech Force shows the Trump administration increasing its focus on developing America's AI infrastructure as it competes with China for dominance in the rapidly growing industry. The initiative was announced four days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at establishing a national AI policy framework -- a priority for industry leaders who opposed states crafting their own regulations. Once Tech Force members complete their two terms, they can seek full-time jobs with those companies, who have committed to consider the programs' alumni for employment. The private partners can also nominate their employees to do stints of government service.

Trump Is Building a 'U.S. Tech Force' of 1,000+ Early Career Workers

The Trump administration is launching an American "Tech Force," a cross-government early career program mean to "recruit top technologists to modernize the federal government," according to a press release by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). As part of the initiative, government agencies will be bringing in an initial cohort of 1,000 early career technologists who will be hired into government agencies to work one or two year-long fellowships. OPM is aiming for around 30 to 40 Tech Force fellows at most large agencies. On top of that, the government will also be hiring a total of 500 project management and data science fellows this coming spring, as well as 200 unpaid student interns studying in technology programs under the "Semester of Service" volunteer program. "The U.S. Tech Force Fellows will gain unique skills and experience working on important, high-impact projects, giving Fellows the opportunity to implement and deploy technology at scale in ways they could not do in the private sector," the Office of Personnel Management said in a memo. Applications are open and being accepted on a rolling basis. For those that succeed in getting it, the approximate salary range given is $150,000 to $200,00. There is a long list of participating federal agencies, with a preliminary list including the Departments of Defense, Treasury, State, Labor, Commerce, Energy, Transportation, Homeland Security, and more. Per CNN, the fellows will work on projects like building AI-integrated drones and weapons, incorporating AI into intelligence practices, and building the platform that will be used for Trump Accounts. The initiative is meant to address skill gaps and drive AI adoption in the federal workforce and is part of Trump's "AI Action Plan," which the administration announced in July with the purported aim of beating China in the global AI race. "Tech Force will accelerate the use of AI to make our government more responsive and efficient," the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy wrote in an X post on Monday. The early career program also comes at a time when young graduates are facing one of the toughest job markets in years, and AI is widely considered to be a factor in that equation. As with many other Trump-era AI programs, the private sector is deeply embedded in this as well. The program is seeking to hire experienced technologists directly from the private sector to lead the early career fellows, and many tech companies are joining to support the initiative with technical training. The initial lineup includes, Nvidia, OpenAI, Adobe, Amazon Web Services, Apple, Coinbase, Google Public Sector, Robinhood, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, Oracle, Palantir, Uber, xAI and more, with the list set to expand. "Sharing elite tech talent is yet another way that Amazon is helping to advance American AI leadership,†AWS vice president of worldwide public sector Dave Levy said in the announcement. The talent sharing between the private and public sectors in order to scale AI is an unusual move but not for Trump 2.0. Many high ranking officials in Trump's administration came directly from the private sector, including his "AI & Crypto Czar" David Sacks, a venture capitalist who has been in hot water the past month for what many deem to be conflicts of interest stemming from his numerous tech investments. Sacks will be one of the government officials leading the Tech Force program. The President has also enlisted Elon Musk to lead the now-defunct "agency" Department of Government Efficiency. Then in June, four Silicon Valley executives â€"Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar, Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth, OpenAI chief product officer Kevin Weil, and Thinking Machines Lab advisor Bob McGrewâ€" joined the Army Reserve as direct-commissioned officers.

White House launches US Tech Force to hire 1,000 AI engineers

The effort reflects Washington's growing urgency to modernize aging systems and compete with China's rapidly expanding AI ecosystem. The program plans to recruit roughly 1,000 early-career engineers, data scientists, project managers, and AI specialists. They will work directly inside federal agencies on high-priority technology projects, reporting to agency leadership rather than operating as a centralized unit. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management is leading the effort. OPM Director Scott Kupor said the government needs stronger technical depth to tackle complex digital challenges. "We're reshaping the workforce to put the right talent on the right problems," Kupor said in a television interview with CNBC. He framed the program as both a talent pipeline and a modernization tool. Participants will commit to two years of government service. During that time, they will work on AI implementation, application development, data modernization, and digital service delivery. Agencies will define specific projects based on their needs. OPM will screen applicants through technical assessments and initial reviews. Agencies will then conduct final interviews and make hiring decisions. Applications opened Monday, and OPM expects most placements by early 2026. Salaries are expected to range from about $130,000 to $200,000 annually, depending on role and agency. Benefits will follow federal employment standards. The Tech Force relies heavily on partnerships with the private sector. More than two dozen technology companies have signed on to support the program. The list includes Amazon Web Services, Apple, Google Public Sector, Microsoft, Nvidia, OpenAI, Oracle, Palantir, Salesforce, Dell, Meta, Adobe, and xAI.

Apple to participate in White House's 'Tech Force' initiative - 9to5Mac

The White House announced plans to recruit "an elite group of ~1,000 technology specialists" from companies such as Apple to serve two-year terms across federal agencies. Here are the details. According to the Tech Force's website, the initiative describes itself as follows: Tech Force will be an elite group of ~1,000 technology specialists hired by agencies to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) implementation and solve the federal government's most critical technological challenges. Tech Force will primarily recruit early-career technologists from traditional recruiting channels, along with experienced engineering managers from private sector partners, to serve two-year employment terms in the federal government. Tech Force will include centralized organization and programming and serve as a recruiting platform post-employment. In their extensive FAQ section, they list Apple as one of the participating companies, alongside Adobe, Amazon Web Services, AMD, Anduril, 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. They note that this list will also expand over time. Apple hasn't yet commented on the extent of its participation. The website stresses that this is a non-partisan initiative, and that it is "centered on serving the American public through better technology". Participants who are experts in software engineering, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, or technical project management should expect annual compensation ranging between $150,000 and $200,000, plus benefits. After their US Tech Force terms end, specialists can apply to remain in government service. For those who choose to return to the private sector, participating companies "have committed to consider the program's alumni for employment," according to CNBC.

The White House wants to poach tech giants' best workers - new "Tech Force" looks to up the US government's tech skills

Work will mostly be in Washington DC, but some remote/flexible options may arise The US government has launched a new 'US Tech Force' scheme to recruit AI and technology talent from successful companies in the tech sector, in order to help modernize the government. The program is starting with an initial cohort of around 1,000 tech workers, who will work on a two-year placement across federal agencies. Some of the roles will include junior software engineers, data scientists and cybersecurity specialists. With roles starting as early as March 2026, the White House has made a pretty big incentive to poach workers from successful tech companies, with pay ranges will vary between around $150,000 and $200,000. An FAQ section on the Tech Force website confirms no traditional education degrees are mandatory, but the "candidates should demonstrate strong technical skills through their work experience, projects, or certifications." Tech Force also stressed this is not a political appointment - workers will be hired as federal employees and "serve in non-partisan roles." Most roles will center around Washington DC, however some agencies may be more flexible in terms of other locations and/or remote setups. Already, a number of major tech firms have signed up to participate in the deal to help the US government acquire top tech talent, including: Adobe, AWS, AMD, Anduril, Apple, Box, C3.ai, Coinbase, Databricks, Dell, Docusign, Google, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, OpenAI, Oracle, Palantir, Salesforce, SAP, ServiceNow, Snowflake, Robinhood, Uber, Workday, xAI and Zoom. The scheme itself isn't necessarily all that new, building on previous models like the Obama-era US Digital Service and the 2022 US Digital Corps. However, the landscape has changed drastically in those years with AI and cloud computing battles continuing to heat up globally, not to mention geopolitical tensions leading the US to want to be on top when it comes to tech leadership.

You can make up to $200K working in Trump's new 'Tech Force' -- and you don't need a degree or work experience | Fortune

The program, announced by the Office of Personnel Management on Monday, aims to recruit approximately 1,000 engineers, data scientists, and AI specialists to work on what officials describe as critical technology projects across the government. Participants, called "fellows," will tackle assignments including AI implementation, application development, and data modernization. You can apply right here. "This is a clarion call," Scott Kupor, a former managing partner at storied VC firm Andreessen Horowitz and the current director of the OPM, said in a statement. "If you want to help your country lead in the age of rapid technological advancement, we need you," he continued. "Tech Force offers the chance to build and lead projects of national importance, while creating powerful career opportunities in both public service and the private sector." What sets the Tech Force apart from most federal positions is its accessibility. According to the program's website, candidates need not hold traditional degrees or meet minimum experience thresholds, though they must demonstrate strong technical skills through work experience, projects, or certifications. According to the Tech Force website's FAQ section, the only "essential" skills are "strong problem-solving abilities and a passion for public service." The context for this initiative is the Trump administration has been working to rebuild technical capacity after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk at the time, orchestrated the departure of about 260,000 government employees through buyouts, early retirements, or terminations. Among those cuts were technology-focused programs including the entire 18F digital consulting group and substantial portions of the U.S. Digital Service, which President Barack Obama established in 2014 to modernize government tech. Tech Force fellows will serve two-year appointments at agencies including the departments of Defense, Treasury, State, and Energy, as well as the Internal Revenue Service and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Annual salaries are expected to range from $150,000 to $200,000, according to the Tech Force website, with most positions classified at the GS-13 and GS-14 levels under federal pay scales. The program has secured partnerships with more than two dozen technology companies including Amazon Web Services, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Oracle, Palantir, and Elon Musk's xAI. These companies will provide training and mentorship to participants and have committed to considering Tech Force alumni for employment after their government service concludes. Some companies will also nominate experienced engineering managers to take leaves of absence for the two-year program. OPM director Kupor says employees from private companies joining the program will become full-time government employees subject to ethics regulations, though they will not be required to divest stock holdings. "We certainly expect, based on all the conversations we've had, that the idea is they view this as a career development opportunity for those individuals," Kupor said of the participating companies. The program will also partner with the NobleReach Foundation, a nonprofit organization that connects technical talent with public service opportunities. NobleReach has previously placed nearly 50 STEM and business graduates in yearlong roles at federal agencies and state partners. Applications opened Monday through federal hiring channels, with OPM conducting initial resume screenings and technical assessments before agencies make final hiring decisions. Kupor said his goal is to have the first cohort onboarded by the end of March 2026. The program represents what OPM described as "unprecedented cross-government coordination" involving the Office of Management and Budget, General Services Administration, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and multiple agency leaders. In a statement, U.S. Federal CIO Gregory Barbaccia called Tech Force "America's elite corps for the AI revolution, mobilizing the nation's best minds to lead on digital frontlines, defend our global edge and secure our future in technological leadership." Critics have questioned the timing and structure of the initiative. Max Stier, CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit that advocates for federal workers, told Axios "they are establishing a new program that seems to significantly overlap with the previous initiatives undertaken by USDS before this administration disbanded it." Rob Shriver, former acting OPM director and current managing director at Democracy Forward, told Nextgov his first concern was "what are the rules that are in place to guard against conflicts of interest?" when asked about private-sector employees working on government projects while maintaining their company stock holdings. The administration has framed the program as essential to maintaining American leadership in artificial intelligence and technology. "President Trump has made clear that securing America's leadership in AI is the paramount national challenge of this generation," OPM said in its announcement. The program is described as a key component of the president's AI Action Plan, which focuses on unleashing private-sector innovation while ensuring the federal government has the technical talent needed for modernization.

Coinbase, Robinhood Join Newly Formed 'Tech Force' to Direct Talent to US Government - Decrypt

Participants will earn $150,000 to $200,000 annually and can pursue employment with private sector partners after completing government service. The Trump administration is recruiting Silicon Valley talent for Washington. The White House on Monday unveiled the "U.S. Tech Force," an initiative comprising approximately 1,000 engineers and technology specialists who will work on artificial intelligence infrastructure and other technology projects throughout the federal government. Crypto exchanges Coinbase and Robinhood are among nearly 30 private sector partners committing talent and resources to the program, in sign of the industry's maturing relationship with government as companies transition from regulatory targets to recognized sources of technical expertise. The two-year program will deploy software engineers, AI specialists, cybersecurity experts, and data analysts to tackle challenges spanning from Treasury Department financial infrastructure to Department of Defense programs. Participants will work in teams reporting directly to agency leadership while receiving technical training from industry partners, according to the program's official website. "Programs like the US Tech Force suggest an acknowledgment that modern governance now requires talent fluent in both cutting-edge technology and complex digital systems, including those pioneered in crypto," Mohith Agadi, Co-founder of Provenance AI, an AI-powered platform for fact-checking and verifiability incubated by Fact Protocol, told Decrypt. The initial roster of partners includes Adobe, Amazon Web Services, 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. Participants will be placed across various federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, 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, Internal Revenue Service, and Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. Agadi noted that the cooperation of crypto firms doesn't have to mean compromise for the industry. "Decentralization has always been about reducing single points of failure and increasing transparency, not rejecting public institutions outright," he said. "When done right, this exchange can actually strengthen public systems by importing decentralization-inspired principles such as verifiability, accountability, and open architectures, into government AI deployments." Tech Force roles pay roughly $150,000 to $200,000 annually, with federal benefits including health coverage, retirement plans, paid leave, and performance-based awards. After the two-year term, participants may move into private-sector partner roles, continue federal service, or use the experience to advance their careers. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with most positions based in Washington, D.C., and some available at other agency locations nationwide. The Tech Force launch follows a slew of AI-focused executive orders from Trump. Last month, the administration unveiled the "Genesis Mission," described as the largest federal research effort since the Manhattan Project, directing agencies to connect federal datasets and national laboratory supercomputers with new AI systems. Last week, Trump signed an executive order directing the Justice Department to challenge state artificial intelligence laws, setting up a confrontation with states that had advanced their own rules. The order instructed agencies to review state rules and weigh funding restrictions tied to compliance.

What to know about the new US 'Tech Force' for the public sector

The talent development programme aims to close 'critical skills gaps' within US government agencies by hiring tech talent for two-year assignments. After firing hundreds of thousands of government workers and shuttering several federal tech offices this year, the United States is launching a new programme to hire new top tech talent and close "critical skills gaps" within federal agencies. The "US Tech Force," announced this week, aims to recruit the tech and artificial intelligence (AI) talent needed to modernise the US government and "help win the global race for AI dominance," according to Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which manages the US federal civil service and is overseeing the project. In a memorandum published on Monday, Kupor wrote that the programme aims to recruit an initial cohort of around 1,000 skilled tech professionals for a pilot beginning in Spring 2026. It's not specified if foreign nationals can apply, and the OPM did not immediately respond to Euronews Next's request for comment. While the primary focus is on early-career professionals, the programme will also allow more experienced tech workers from participating private sector companies to take leaves of absence to train and mentor Tech Force participants. Fellowships will last 1-2 years with annual salaries ranging from $150,000 to $200,000 (€127,000 to €169,500), according to the memorandum, with missions ranging from "administering critical financial infrastructure at the Treasury Department to advancing cutting-edge programmes at the Department of Defence". After completing the programme, fellows can seek employment with one of around 20 partner companies, which include Amazon Web Services, Apple, IBM, Meta, Nvidia, OpenAI, and Oracle. The partner companies haven't made any firm hiring commitments, Kupor said. He added that employees who are temporarily leaving their jobs in the private sector will not have to divest from their stocks. The new talent development programme comes at the end of a turbulent year for tech workers in the United States' public and private sectors. Several of the government's existing tech teams - at agencies including the Social Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Department of Defence - were dismantled under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) purge led by Elon Musk. President Donald Trump also imposed a $100,000 fee (€85,600) on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign nationals in September. The visas are widely held by foreign engineers and scientists who are employed by major US tech companies. In response, companies such as Amazon and Microsoft warned their employees to stay in the US or face potentially not being let back in.

Trump is recruiting tech personnel for government Tech Force - SiliconANGLE

Trump is recruiting tech personnel for government Tech Force The Trump administration today announced it's in the process of hiring an "elite corps of engineers" to join federal agencies that together will work on artificial intelligence infrastructure and other technology projects. The corps of around 1,000 engineers and other tech specialists will form the "U.S. Tech Force." Throughout the two-year program, they will work in collaboration with companies such as Microsoft Corp., Apple Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Nvidia Corp., Salesforce Inc., Oracle Corp., Palantir Technologies Inc., and OpenAI Group PBC, among other big names in tech. The personnel, who will be earning somewhere between $150,000 and US$200,000, will have the opportunity to work with said companies after their two-year service with the Tech Force is finished. The program will not have a "political mission." The work will be focused on improving government technology capabilities, an area where the federal government could be lacking after scores of workers were fired or resigned at the start of Trump's term. "We have some resources, but certainly it's an area that we need to build out more," Scott Kupor, the director of the Office of Personnel Management, which is leading the program, told reporters today. The news comes just days after Trump signed an executive order that will limit the ability of states to regulate AI, a move the White House says is necessary to make the U.S. competitive with China. The Tech Force puts even more focus on modernizing U.S. government infrastructure as it competes with China's own tech ambitions. "Bringing Silicon Valley operators into federal agencies is a practical way to compress timelines," Darren Kimura, Chief Executive and President of AI Squared, told SiliconANGLE. "Tech Force concept is directionally right if it is mission-driven: embed talent directly inside agencies with clear mandates, measurable deliverables, and the authority to modernize data and workflows." This is not the first time the U.S. government has attempted to encourage specialists from the public sector to bring their acumen to federal agencies. The U.S. Digital Service was established under the Obama administration to bring experienced technologists into government for fixed, short-term stints. On his first day in office, Trump repurposed the group to house the Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, triggering an exodus of staff in the early months of his administration, either through dismissals or resignations. Critics have asked if there might be a conflict of interest when private employees finish their two years with the government and return to their corporate jobs, after working on government systems and accessing potentially very sensitive data. "We feel like we've run down all the various conflict issues and don't believe that that's actually going to be an impediment to getting people here," Kupor told NextGov. "The huge benefit to the government will be getting people who are very skilled in the private sector at managing engineering teams."

US Launches Campaign to Hire AI Engineers for Federal Roles

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The Trump administration has launched a campaign to hire 1,000 engineers into federal government roles for two-year stints, ⁠according to a government website viewed by Reuters on Monday. The administration is looking to hire employees with expertise in software engineering, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data ⁠analytics, according to the website. They will be assigned to positions inside government agencies, with most of the roles based in Washington, D.C. Private companies have pledged to consider the program's alumni for positions, according to the website. The list of companies includes Apple, Google and Nvidia, among others. The campaign is part of the Trump administration's push to reshape government agencies. (Reporting by Courtney Rozen, Editing by Franklin Paul)

Trump administration begins programme to increase government's tech worker ranks - The Economic Times

The Trump administration on Monday began a recruiting effort aimed at bolstering the government's ranks of technology workers, starting a program that will hire tech employees to join federal agencies and work on projects related to artificial intelligence and modernization. The project, called the U.S. Tech Force, is the first targeted recruiting program of its kind for the administration, which kicked off its tenure by firing federal workers and pressuring tens of thousands to resign. The government has long needed more tech workers, but that deficit most likely worsened this year, when an unknown number departed. "We have some resources, but certainly it's an area that we need to build out more," Scott Kupor, the director of the Office of Personnel Management, which is leading the program, told reporters Monday. The goal is to hire about 1,000 top-level technical employees and supervisors to work on projects at agencies such as the IRS and the Defense Department. The government is seeking software engineers, data scientists and product managers. After two years, Kupor said, they can stay in government or take a higher-paying job in the private sector. The Tech Force resembles other efforts by the federal government to recruit more technologists. The U.S. Digital Corps, a program initiated in 2021 under the Biden administration, also seeks to bring tech workers into federal jobs for two-year terms, but it targets candidates in earlier stages of their careers. That program was intended to allow participants to help the government modernize its technology before eventually moving on to higher-paying jobs in the tech industry. Another program was the U.S. Digital Service, founded in 2014, which the Trump administration fashioned into a home for the Department of Government Efficiency and renamed the U.S. DOGE Service. The project, spearheaded by Elon Musk, also sought to bring tech workers into government jobs for rapid modernization. But DOGE made sweeping job cuts as well -- including senior technologists in the Digital Service and others in the wing of the General Services Administration that runs the Digital Corps. DOGE also eliminated 18F, a digital services agency created in 2014 that developed software and technology products for various federal agencies and employed nearly 100 people. In February, Musk posted on the social platform X that 18F had been "deleted" and reposted another social media message that called it a "far-left government wide computer office." Mathias Rechtzigel, who left the U.S. Digital Corps over the summer through the administration's resignation incentive program and previously worked at the Digital Service, said the new Tech Force sounded like an effort to replace the more senior tech talent that DOGE had fired. The government was in need of more "smart technologists," Rechtzigel said. The Tech Force, he said, appeared to be recruiting people a lot like him. "I do think that this is a reaction to DOGE not going well," said Rechtzigel, who now works at a tech startup. Kupor distinguished the Tech Force from DOGE, which is still active but is not as prominent since Musk left this year. "If you think about a lot of what the DOGE engineers did, a lot of things, but a big portion, of course, was looking for waste, fraud and abuse, which you know is ongoing, and it's still a very important thing," Kupor said. "Our hope here is that these individuals will really focus on, broadly, modernization efforts." Musk was widely criticized for his chain-saw approach to shrinking the government instead of studying agencies and recommending more specific job cuts. The job market in the tech sector has softened in recent years, and many large tech companies have had widespread cuts, making it less certain that a worker could easily return to the industry after a temporary stint in the federal government. The Office of Personnel Management said major tech firms such as Microsoft, Meta, Nvidia and OpenAI were teaming up with the Tech Force, pledging to recruit workers from within their companies and potentially hiring ones leaving the program. From his first days in office, President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind artificial intelligence, answering the lobbying wishes of Silicon Valley. One of his first actions was to unwind Biden-era directives for safety standards. In July, the Trump administration introduced an AI action plan aimed at accelerating the growth of domestic artificial intelligence companies by cutting red tape on the development of AI data centres and opening up exports of AI chips and technologies, including to China. Last week, Trump signed an executive order seeking to neuter state AI laws that protect consumers and require safety testing of the largest systems.

The Trump administration creates a federal "Tech force" of 1,000 experts to accelerate technological projects

On Monday the Trump administration announced the creation of a "US Tech Force," a new federal program mobilizing roughly 1,000 engineers and technology specialists to support strategic projects related to artificial intelligence and the digital modernization of US agencies. This initiative, with an initial two-year term, aims to strengthen the government's capacity to deliver large-scale technology projects in close collaboration with the private sector. Participants will be assigned across federal agencies and will work alongside major industry players such as Amazon Web Services, Apple, Google Public Sector (Alphabet), Microsoft, Nvidia, OpenAI, Oracle and Palantir. They will focus on priority areas: AI deployment, application development, cloud infrastructure, modernization of data systems, and improvement of digital public services. At the end of their mission, participants may join one of the partner companies, which have committed to consider their applications.

US launches campaign to hire AI engineers for federal roles

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The Trump administration has launched a campaign to hire 1,000 engineers into federal government roles for two-year stints, according to a government website viewed by Reuters on Monday. The administration is looking to hire employees with expertise in software engineering, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data analytics, according to the website. They will be assigned to positions inside government agencies, with most of the roles based in Washington, D.C. Private companies have pledged to consider the program's alumni for positions, according to the website. The list of companies includes Apple, Google and Nvidia, among others. The campaign is part of the Trump administration's push to reshape government agencies. (Reporting by Courtney Rozen, Editing by Franklin Paul)