Trump Administration Plans to Recruit 1,000 Technologists for Elite ‘Tech Force’ to Modernize Government

The Trump administration unveiled an ambitious new initiative Monday to recruit technological talent for accelerating artificial intelligence implementation across federal agencies. Dubbed “Tech Force,” the program aims to bring approximately 1,000 early-career technologists into government service for two-year terms.

“The main objective of this program is there’s a ton of technology modernization work that needs to get done across pretty much every agency in the government,” explained Scott Kupor, director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), in an interview with Fox News Digital.

The announcement comes just four days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a national policy framework designed to strengthen American leadership in AI. The timing underscores the administration’s focus on technological advancement as a key national priority.

“President Trump has made clear that securing America’s leadership in AI is the paramount national challenge of this generation,” the OPM stated in a press release. “The president’s AI Action Plan focuses on unleashing private sector innovation while also recognizing the federal government must have the technical talent to lead in technology modernization.”

Participants in the Tech Force program could be placed at numerous federal agencies, including the Departments of War, State, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services. Their responsibilities would include AI implementation, software development, data modernization, and transitioning federal operations away from outdated systems.

The initiative represents a significant push to address the technological talent gap in federal service. According to Kupor, while approximately 22 percent of the private sector workforce consists of early-career professionals, that figure drops to just 7 percent in government. Tech Force aims to help close this disparity.

To strengthen the program, the administration has secured partnerships with over 25 leading technology companies to guide federal modernization efforts. These private-sector partners include major players such as Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon Web Services, Google Public Sector, Uber, Zoom, Adobe, NVIDIA, Dell Technologies, and Palantir.

The collaboration between government and industry leaders signals a comprehensive approach to technological advancement and suggests potential for cross-sector innovation in AI implementation.

Recruits can expect substantial compensation, with annual salaries ranging from $150,000 to $200,000, according to McLaurine Pinover, Communications Head for the initiative. Beyond competitive pay, the program offers significant career development opportunities spanning both public and private sectors.

“At the end of the program, we’re also going to run a very, very comprehensive job fair with all those private companies coming to meet all these thousand engineers and give them the opportunity if they decide they want to go into the private sector,” Kupor noted. “We’re trying to demonstrate that people can come to government, even for a short period of time, even for two years, do great work, and ultimately, that work will present tremendous career opportunities for them.”

This approach represents a shift in how government service is positioned to potential recruits. Rather than requiring a long-term commitment, Tech Force presents federal work as a valuable career stepping stone that can lead to opportunities in either the public or private sector.

The initiative aligns with broader trends in AI development and implementation across various industries. As artificial intelligence continues to transform sectors from healthcare to finance, governments worldwide are racing to harness its potential for improving services, enhancing security, and streamlining operations.

By creating a clear pathway for technical talent to enter government service, the Trump administration appears to be addressing one of the key challenges in public sector modernization—attracting skilled professionals who might otherwise gravitate exclusively toward Silicon Valley and other technology hubs.