About 25,000 engineers and technologists have registered interest in joining the US government’s new Tech Force programme, highlighting strong private-sector appetite to work on federal technology and artificial intelligence projects, according to a senior administration official.
Scott Kupor, Director of the US Office of Personnel Management, said on X that the government would use the list to recruit software engineers, data specialists, and other technology professionals for around 1,000 roles in the first Tech Force cohort.
Successful candidates will be embedded for two years within federal agencies, including the Departments of Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, and Justice, where they will work on digital modernisation and AI-related initiatives. The programme is designed to inject technical capability into government systems that have long struggled to compete with the private sector for advanced engineering talent.
For electronics suppliers, systems integrators, and enterprise software groups, the initiative signals a renewed push by Washington to accelerate adoption of AI-driven tools across government operations, potentially expanding demand for secure computing infrastructure, data platforms, and specialised hardware.
Tech Force forms part of President Donald Trump’s broader AI agenda, aimed at strengthening domestic technological capacity and reducing reliance on external contractors. Previous administrations, including that of former President Joe Biden, launched similar schemes to attract engineers and technologists into public service, though on a more limited scale.
The programme also marks a notable exception to the administration’s early focus on reducing federal headcount. While large parts of government have faced job cuts since the start of Trump’s second term, officials have argued that roles linked to AI, cybersecurity, and advanced technology are critical to national security and economic competitiveness.
