USA 
United Kingdom
The Trump administration has begun a targeted recruiting effort aimed at rebuilding the federal government’s technology workforce, launching a program focused on artificial intelligence and modernization projects.
The initiative, called the US Tech Force, is designed to hire about 1,000 senior-level technologists and supervisors to work across federal agencies including the Internal Revenue Service and the Defense Department. Roles include software engineers, data scientists and product managers.
Scott Kupor, Director of the Office of Personnel Management, which is leading the program, said the federal government needs to strengthen its technical capabilities following significant workforce disruption earlier in the administration.
“We have some resources, but certainly it’s an area that we need to build out more,” Kupor told reporters.
The program marks the first targeted tech recruiting effort of the administration, which began its term by firing federal workers and encouraging tens of thousands more to resign. The government has long faced a shortage of technology staff, a gap that likely widened when an unknown number of employees departed this year.
Two-year roles and private sector pathways
Participants in the Tech Force will be hired for two-year stints, after which they can remain in government or return to the private sector. Kupor said the administration expects the roles to appeal to experienced technologists interested in public service without making a permanent career move.
The program resembles earlier federal efforts. The US Digital Corps, launched in 2021, also brings technologists into government for two-year terms, although it targets candidates earlier in their careers. Another predecessor was the US Digital Service, created in 2014.
Under the Trump administration, the Digital Service was reshaped into the US DOGE Service under Elon Musk, focusing heavily on identifying waste, fraud and abuse, but also resulted in sweeping job cuts. Those included senior technologists and the elimination of 18F, a digital services agency that employed nearly 100 people.
In February, Musk posted on X that 18F had been “deleted” and reposted a message calling it a “far-left government wide computer office.”
Rebuilding after DOGE cuts
Mathias Rechtzigel, who previously worked at the Digital Service and left the US Digital Corps this summer through a resignation incentive program, said the Tech Force appeared to be an effort to replace experienced talent lost during DOGE-led reductions.
“I do think that this is a reaction to DOGE not going well,” said Rechtzigel, who now works at a tech start-up.
Kupor said the Tech Force differs from DOGE, which remains active but less prominent since Musk’s departure.
“Our hope here is that these individuals will really focus on, broadly, modernization efforts,” Kupor said.
The initiative arrives as the tech job market has softened, with widespread layoffs across major firms. OPM said companies including Microsoft, Meta, Nvidia and OpenAI are partnering with the Tech Force and may hire participants after their government service.
Trump has consistently backed artificial intelligence development. Early in his term, he unwound Biden-era safety directives and later introduced an AI action plan aimed at accelerating domestic AI growth by reducing regulation and expanding exports of AI technologies.
