President Trump announced the creation of the United States Tech Force, a new federal initiative designed to recruit roughly 1,000 technology professionals from major technology companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon and others to work on government modernization, AI adoption, and digital system improvements across federal agencies for terms up to two years, a move that comes after a broader reorganization of the U.S. Digital Service and aims to bridge federal tech talent shortages by tapping private-sector expertise while reflecting the administration’s ongoing focus on artificial intelligence and government efficiency.
Sources: Business Insider, Barron’s
Key Takeaways
• The United States Tech Force is a federal hiring initiative targeting about 1,000 tech specialists from leading tech firms to modernize government systems and accelerate AI integration.
• Participating companies include Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and others, and roles may offer significant salaries and opportunities for early-career professionals and mentors from industry.
• The effort follows a downsizing of government digital services earlier in the year and reflects the Trump administration’s broader strategy of leveraging private-sector talent for federal technology and AI priorities.
In-Depth
President Trump’s newly announced United States Tech Force represents a significant shift in how the federal government plans to address its chronic technology and digital infrastructure challenges. Announced in December 2025, the initiative seeks to recruit about 1,000 technology professionals from a wide array of major tech companies — including Apple, Google, Microsoft, Meta, and others — to serve across federal agencies for up to two years. The goal is to bring private-sector expertise directly into the heart of government operations to tackle long-standing problems with outdated legacy systems and to fast-track the implementation of artificial intelligence and modern digital services within the federal bureaucracy.
This program fills a gap that opened earlier in the year after the U.S. Digital Service (USDS), a federal tech modernization unit originally formed under President Obama, was reorganized and effectively dismantled, with responsibilities folded into the Department of Government Efficiency — a move that led to the departure of many experienced government technologists. The Tech Force initiative responds to criticisms about the federal government’s shortage of tech talent by offering high compensation packages and a structured pathway for both seasoned engineers and early-career professionals to contribute to public service while maintaining connections to their private-sector employers.
According to reports, participants might earn salaries in the range of approximately $130,000 to $195,000, and the program may include remote work options and mentorship opportunities from senior industry figures. The aim is to work on key priorities like software engineering, data analytics, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence — fields that are seen as crucial for modern government efficiency and competitiveness. By recruiting from top U.S. tech firms, the administration hopes to import cutting-edge skills and contemporary development practices into agencies that have long struggled with archaic technology.
Critics, however, raise concerns about possible conflicts of interest when partnering so closely with companies that also serve as government contractors. Nevertheless, supporters argue this is a practical approach to closing the federal government’s capability gaps, especially in AI and digital transformation, where private sector innovations far outpace the public sector’s current capacity. The initiative dovetails with other recent Trump administration actions aimed at prioritizing American leadership in AI, underscoring the broader political and strategic emphasis on technology as a national priority in the coming years.
The United States Tech Force program reflects a moment of intersection between government needs and private-sector skill sets at a time when America is vying to maintain a competitive edge in critical technology sectors. By offering structured roles and substantial compensation, the administration hopes to entice talent that otherwise might not consider public service, while shaping a new model for collaborative public-private engagement in federal technology modernization.