POLITICO Tech What’s behind Trump’s new Tech Force
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Dec 18, 2025 
Scott Kupor, Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and former tech investor, discusses the newly launched U.S. Tech Force aimed at recruiting top tech talent into federal service. He highlights plans to hire specialists in AI and cybersecurity while addressing why tech professionals often shy away from government jobs. Kupor outlines how this initiative differs from past efforts through private-sector partnerships and a focus on modernizing agency IT with advanced tech. He advocates for a culture that embraces AI and continuous learning within federal jobs.
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Dual Problem: Skills And Early-Career Shortage
- The US Tech Force targets both skill gaps and low early-career hiring in federal government.
- Scott Kupor says only about 7% of federal workers are early-career versus ~22% in private sector, so pipeline rebuilding is key.
Join A Two-Year, Cohort-Based Placement
- Apply to the two-year TechForce to work on agency-specific tech projects matched to your skills.
- Participate in cohort events like speaker series and career development to build cross-agency networks.
Beyond Pay: Culture And Promotion Reform
- Pay matters but isn't the only barrier to recruiting tech talent into government.
- Kupor emphasizes career development, performance management, and removing tenure/degree barriers to reward skill not tenure.