• Tech Force initiative attracted approximately 25,000 applicants competing for 1,000 inaugural spots
• Selected engineers will serve two-year stints at federal agencies working on AI projects
• Program launches months after Trump administration eliminated over 300,000 federal positions

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — The Trump administration's newly launched Tech Force initiative has attracted approximately 25,000 applicants competing for 1,000 spots in its inaugural cohort, officials announced Tuesday, marking an aggressive push to recruit artificial intelligence talent months after the government shed hundreds of thousands of workers. Scott Kupor, director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, disclosed the application figure in a post on X, though Reuters could not independently verify the 25,000 number.

The selected engineers and data scientists will serve two-year stints working on technology projects at federal agencies including the Departments of Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, and Justice.

Recruiting AI Talent Amid Workforce Reductions

The recruitment drive represents a sharp pivot from the administration's broader workforce reduction strategy. By the end of December, approximately 317,000 federal employees will have left government service in 2025, according to Office of Personnel Management data. Tens of thousands were fired while significantly more retired or resigned amid buyout offers and heightened uncertainty.

"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."

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Tech Force participants will earn salaries ranging from $130,000 to $195,000 and need not hold traditional degrees or meet minimum experience thresholds, according to the program's website. Candidates must demonstrate strong technical skills through work experience, projects, or certifications.

Tech Giants Partner on Government Initiative

More than 20 technology companies have signed on as program partners, including Meta, Palantir, Oracle, Microsoft, Amazon and Elon Musk's xAI. Engineering managers from participating companies will take leaves of absence to become full-time government employees without divesting stock holdings, raising conflict of interest concerns among former federal officials.

"My first question with any programs like this are, 'What are the rules that are in place to guard against conflicts of interest?'" said Rob Shriver, former acting OPM director.

The NobleReach Foundation, a nonprofit connecting technical talent with public service opportunities, will help administer the program alongside OPM.

Ambitious AI Projects Across Government

Tech Force members will tackle projects ranging from incorporating advanced AI into drones and weapons at the Department of Defense to building the Trump Accounts platform at the Internal Revenue Service and using AI to improve intelligence gathering at the State Department, according to Kupor.

The program aims to address two workforce gaps simultaneously: technology expertise and early-career talent. Currently only seven percent of the federal workforce is under age 30, a deficit the administration seeks to address despite earlier cuts to recruitment programs including the Presidential Management Fellows program and U.S. Digital Corps.

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Applications opened Monday through federal hiring channels, with OPM conducting initial résumé screenings and technical assessments before agencies make final hiring decisions. Kupor said his goal is to have the first cohort onboarded by the end of March 2026.

Can targeted AI recruitment compensate for the loss of over 300,000 federal workers, or does government efficiency require both specialized talent and sufficient staffing levels?

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