Trump Seeks Big Tech Talent for Government Roles

President Donald Trump is set to assemble a team of tech talent from major players like Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft to launch the US Tech Force, a new initiative aimed at “modernizing the federal government.” Announced on Monday, the program plans to recruit around 1,000 tech specialists to work across various federal agencies for a period of up to two years. After their tenure, these workers will have the option to either join the partnering companies or continue their careers within the government.

The Tech Force’s mission is to “accelerate the use of AI” to enhance government efficiency and accountability, as well as to develop applications and upgrade data systems. In addition to drawing talent from Big Tech, the initiative will also welcome “early career candidates.” Other companies like Adobe, AMD, OpenAI, Robinhood, Uber, Nvidia, and xAI will also be involved in this effort.

This initiative appears to be Trump’s reimagining of the US Digital Service (USDS), which was effectively dismantled earlier this year to create the Department of Government Efficiency. The USDS was established by former President Barack Obama in 2014 to collaborate with federal agencies on improving their digital services.

However, shortly after taking office, Trump merged the USDS into the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), rebranding it as the DOGE Service and laying off numerous staff members. The administration has aimed to streamline the federal government, which included reducing its tech workforce, leading to the departure of many employees and a decline in morale among those who remained.

Now, the Trump administration is looking to some of the country’s largest tech firms to overhaul government technology. In a similar vein, the US Army recently enlisted executives from Meta, OpenAI, Palantir, and Thinking Machines Lab to provide guidance on technological advancements.

The emphasis on AI has been a consistent priority for the Trump administration. Just last week, Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to contest state-level regulations on AI.