The Trump administration has announced the launch of the "U.S. Tech Force", a cross-government program designed to recruit private sector technologists into government roles to modernise federal infrastructure.
Revealed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the program aims to bridge the gap between Silicon Valley innovation and federal agency needs with a focus on "high-impact" areas such as AI, cybersecurity, and data analytics.
The program involves a strategic partnership with major technology heavyweights, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Apple, Google Public Sector, and Microsoft.
Other initial private sector partners for the Tech Force are a who's who of Silicon Valley giants too, including: Adobe, AMD, Anduril, Box, C3.ai, Coinbase, Databricks, Dell Technologies, Docusign, IBM, Meta, Nvidia, OpenAI, Oracle, Palantir, Robinhood, Salesforce, SAP, ServiceNow, Snowflake, Synopsys, Uber, Workday, xAI, and Zoom.
“This is a clarion call,” OPM Director Scott Kupor said.
“If you want to help your country lead in the age of rapid technological advancement, we need you. 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."
Rebuilding the ranks
The announcement comes as the administration seeks to restaff critical technical positions following the sweeping workforce reductions enacted by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) earlier this year.
Previously led by Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, DOGE had aggressively targeted “administrative bloat”, having reportedly cut the U.S. federal civilian headcount by significant margins since January.
Critics have argued these cuts left agencies like the IRS and Veterans Affairs vulnerable, relying on decades-old legacy IT systems that are prone to failure.
Under the new program, the OPM plans to recruit an initial cohort of ~1,000 engineers, data scientists, and AI specialists to backfill these technical gaps.
Recruits will serve two-year terms across various federal agencies, with annual salaries expected to reach up to US$200,000.
"Give us two years of service, and then you're going to have the private sector clamouring for you," Kupor added.
Elsewhere in the Trump administration
The Tech Force launch aligns with the President's broader "AI Action Plan," which prioritises American leadership in AI while reducing regulatory barriers.
Just days prior, President Trump signed a "One Rule" Executive Order aimed at preempting state-level AI regulations - such as those in California - that the White House deems "burdensome" to innovation.
It directly challenges frameworks like California's rigorous safety bills, which had sought to impose liability on developers for AI harms - a major point of contention for the Silicon Valley donor class.
The order directs the Justice Department to challenge state laws that conflict with federal AI policies, reinforcing the administration's push for a unified national framework.
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) both saw slight gains in after-hours trading following the announcement of their involvement in the federal partnership.
