A new initiative aims to replace bureaucracy with code by hiring top-tier tech talent for two-year government stints to modernise federal agencies
The landscape of the American federal workforce is undergoing a radical transformation. On Monday, officials announced a major Trump administration AI hiring initiative designed to bring Silicon Valley speed to Washington. Dubbed the “US Tech Force”, this programme aims to recruit an initial cohort of 1,000 software engineers, data scientists, and artificial intelligence experts. These specialists will serve two-year terms within various agencies, tasked with modernising antiquated systems and implementing cutting-edge automation. This move comes directly from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), now led by venture capitalist Scott Kupor, signalling a distinct shift towards a private-sector mindset in governance.
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High Pay for High Skills
To attract top talent in a competitive market, the Trump administration AI hiring plan offers compensation packages that far exceed typical government scales. Successful applicants can expect annual salaries ranging between $150,000 and $200,000. Unlike traditional civil service roles that prioritise tenure, these positions are designed as “tours of duty”. The government has partnered with tech giants such as OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft, who have agreed to consider these fellows for employment upon completion of their service. Consequently, this initiative creates a prestigious pipeline between the tech industry and the public sector, aiming to make government service a resume-booster rather than a career dead-end.
Replacing Bureaucracy with Code
This recruitment drive is not happening in a vacuum; it follows a significant reduction in the federal workforce. Critics argue that the Trump administration AI hiring strategy is essentially replacing human decision-makers with algorithmic systems. By deploying 1,000 technologists into agencies like the Department of Defense and the Treasury, the White House intends to automate complex processes that previously required thousands of administrative staff. This aligns with the broader goals of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, which seeks to dismantle “wasteful” bureaucracy. Therefore, the influx of these tech specialists is likely the precursor to further structural downsizing across federal departments.
A New Era of “Gig Governance”
The introduction of the US Tech Force marks the end of the “job for life” culture in Washington. By limiting these roles to two years, the Trump administration AI hiring model promotes a constant churn of fresh ideas but risks eroding institutional memory. Supporters believe this agility is necessary to keep up with China in the global AI race. However, sceptics worry about the continuity of critical projects once these short-term fellows depart. Moreover, embedding private-sector employees so deeply into public agencies raises questions about data privacy and potential conflicts of interest. Nevertheless, this programme represents the most aggressive attempt to digitise the US government in history.
The Hinge Point
While the high salaries grab headlines, the critical shift here is the “productisation” of government. The Trump administration AI hiring plan treats federal agencies less like ministries and more like failing software startups in need of a refactor. This approach creates a “shadow civil service” of un-elected technologists who will effectively write the rules of governance through code. When a law is enforced by an algorithm rather than a human bureaucrat, the ability to appeal or understand that decision often disappears. Thus, this initiative may quietly transfer immense administrative power from Congress to a small cadre of engineers who are accountable only to their codebases.