News AI Policy Trump is recruiting Big Tech workers for the government

President Donald Trump announced the formation of the US Tech Force, a new program designed to modernize federal government technology by recruiting about 1,000 technology specialists from leading companies such as Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Nvidia, Adobe, Uber, and others, as well as early-career candidates. Participants will work across federal agencies for up to two years, focusing on accelerating the use of artificial intelligence, developing government apps, and upgrading outdated data and IT systems. After completing their service, workers may return to the private sector or apply to continue working in government. The initiative resembles the U.S. Digital Service (USDS) created under President Barack Obama to improve federal digital services. However, Trump previously dismantled USDS, folding it into the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and laying off dozens of federal tech workers as part of broader government-cutting efforts. The launch of the Tech Force signals a shift in strategy, with the administration now relying on Big Tech partnerships to drive digital transformation, similar to recent efforts by the U.S. Army, which also recruited executives from major tech firms to support modernization efforts.