'Tech Force': Trump admin seeks 1,000 tech specialists to work in gov AI

The Trump administration launched what is being called the "US Tech Force" as the president is seeking US dominance in the artificial intelligence industry. The new initiative will be comprised of around 1,000 engineers as well as others who will build out AI infrastructure and projects within the federal government.

The two-year employment program will work with teams that report to agency leaders in “collaboration with leading technology companies,” according to the launch website. "Upon completing the program, engineers can seek employment with the partnering private-sector companies for potential full-time roles – demonstrating the value of combining civil service with technical expertise," the website adds.

Some of the private sector companies that will be working with the government to implement the AI capabilities include Adobe, Amazon Web Services, AMD, Anduril, Apple, Box, C3.ai, Coinbase, Databricks, Dell Technologies, Docusign, Google Public Sector, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, OpenAI, Oracle, Palantir, Salesforce, SAP, ServiceNow, Snowflake, Robinhood, Uber, Workday, xAI, and Zoom.

The initiative from the Trump administration comes just days after the president signed an executive order that is meant to establish a regulatory framework for AI in the US and has said that states should not be implementing their own AI regulations.

The salaries for those working on the project range from $150,000 to $200,000 annually, in addition to benefits. Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor said of the move from the Trump administration, “We’re trying to reshape the workforce to make sure we have the right talent on the right problems."

The webpage for Tech Force calls on people who are "highly skilled in the areas of software engineering, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, or technical project management" to join the program so they can "build the future of American government technology."