Trump Seeks Big Tech Talent for Government Roles
▼ Summary
– President Trump announced the US Tech Force, a program to hire around 1,000 tech specialists from companies like Amazon, Apple, and Google to modernize the federal government.
– The Tech Force aims to accelerate AI use, develop apps, and modernize data systems to make government more efficient, also hiring early-career candidates.
– This initiative replaces the US Digital Service (USDS), an agency formed under Obama that Trump folded into a new department and downsized earlier this year.
– The administration’s move follows a pattern of seeking tech expertise from major companies, similar to the US Army’s recent hiring of executives from firms like Meta and OpenAI.
– Focusing on AI is a Trump administration priority, exemplified by a recent executive order directing federal agencies to challenge state-level AI regulations.
The Trump administration is launching a new initiative to recruit top talent from major technology corporations, aiming to infuse the federal government with private-sector expertise. This program, called the US Tech Force, plans to bring in approximately 1,000 technology specialists from companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Microsoft for stints of up to two years. Participants will have the option to return to their partnering firms or seek permanent government roles after their service. The stated goal is to modernize federal operations, accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence, and develop more efficient public-facing applications and data systems.
Beyond established professionals from Big Tech, the initiative will also open doors for early career candidates, expanding the pipeline for new talent. A broad coalition of firms is involved, including Adobe, AMD, OpenAI, Nvidia, xAI, Zoom, Uber, and Robinhood. This collaborative effort seeks to make governmental services more responsive and technologically advanced by leveraging cutting-edge private sector knowledge.
This move represents a distinct shift from previous federal tech strategies. It appears to be a new version of the US Digital Service (USDS), an agency created under President Obama in 2014 to improve digital services across government. The Trump administration had previously folded the USDS into a new Department of Government Efficiency, a reorganization that led to significant staff reductions and lowered morale as part of broader efforts to streamline federal operations.
Now, the administration is looking outward to revitalize government technology. The focus on artificial intelligence is a consistent priority, underscored by a recent executive order directing federal agencies to scrutinize and potentially challenge state-level AI regulations. This tech talent push mirrors other governmental outreach, such as the U.S. Army’s recent advisory council that includes executives from Meta, OpenAI, and Palantir.
The Tech Force program highlights a strategic pivot towards harnessing corporate innovation to overhaul legacy systems, marking a significant attempt to bridge the gap between Silicon Valley’s rapid development cycles and the federal government’s operational needs.
(Source: The Verge)
