In late 2025, the U.S. government launched a major federal hiring initiative designed to bring top technology talent into government service. Known as the U.S. Tech Force, this groundbreaking program aims to recruit approximately 1,000 technologists to work across federal agencies for terms of up to two years, offering salaries as high as $200,000 per year. This effort marks one of the most ambitious federal technology recruitment campaigns in recent history and signals a shift in how government attracts and retains digital-age professionals.
What Is the U.S. Tech Force?
The U.S. Tech Force is a White House-backed initiative administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) that recruits software engineers, data scientists, artificial intelligence specialists, cybersecurity professionals, and technical project managers for critical technology and defense work. These positions are designed to accelerate modernization efforts across the federal government, including the Department of Defense, the Internal Revenue Service, the State Department, and other agencies confronting complex digital challenges.
Unlike traditional federal hiring mechanisms, Tech Force is structured as a two-year assignment in which individuals work directly with federal leadership to address technology gaps and implement solutions, particularly in AI integration, data modernization, legacy system upgrades, and cybersecurity enhancements. Agencies involved have been encouraged to identify areas where in-house technical capability has lagged behind private-sector norms, creating bottlenecks in service delivery and national security systems.
Competitive Salaries and Professional Development
One of the most striking features of the Tech Force program is its salary range, which can go up to $200,000 annually—a level that positions these roles among the most competitive technology jobs in government service. While actual pay will depend on factors like experience and agency placement, most participants are expected to fall into the GS-13 and GS-14 federal pay grades, with salaries commonly ranging from roughly $130,000 to close to $200,000.
In addition to competitive pay, Tech Force participants receive standard federal benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid leave. Crucially, the program also builds in professional development opportunities through partnerships with leading private-sector technology firms. Companies such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, Nvidia, Palantir, and others are providing mentorship, training, and networking events to help fellows deepen their technical skills and expand their professional networks.
Who the Program Targets
U.S. Tech Force is aimed primarily at early-career technologists, though the program also includes roles for experienced managers drawn from private industry who can serve as mentors or project leads. The shared expectation across agencies is that participants bring demonstrated technical abilities in areas such as software engineering, data analytics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and systems modernization. Applicants do not necessarily need traditional academic credentials; evidence of technical competence through projects, certifications, or practical experience is considered a key qualification.
A unique aspect of Tech Force is its effort to recalibrate the federal workforce’s age and skill profile. Federal employment data shows that only a small proportion of government workers are under 30, while private-sector technology firms employ a significantly higher percentage of early-career professionals. Tech Force seeks to help close this gap by attracting younger and technically skilled professionals into government work.
Where Tech Force Members Will Work
Participants in the program will be placed in a wide variety of agencies, reflecting the cross-government need for digital expertise. The Department of Defense will leverage recruits to modernize AI capabilities within military technology and data systems, while other agencies will tackle projects from modernizing tax processing systems at the IRS to supporting secure data systems at the State Department. Some roles may offer remote work options or placements outside the Washington, D.C. area, depending on agency needs and job requirements.
Public-Private Partnerships and Career Pathways
Public-private collaboration lies at the heart of the Tech Force strategy. With nearly 30 leading technology companies partnering with OPM, participants will benefit from broader exposure to cutting-edge practices and future career opportunities. These partnerships also create a pipeline for participants to transition into private-sector roles after completing their two-year tenure, Defense Tech Force Opens 1000 Federal Jobs at $200K Salary or to remain in federal service with enhanced credentials and experience.
Engineering managers from partner firms are even being recruited to temporarily serve in government to lead teams and mentor Tech Force cohorts, fostering a culture of innovation and cross-sector knowledge transfer. This model represents a departure from traditional government hiring, encouraging dynamic interchange between public service and industry expertise.
Final Perspective
The launch of the U.S. Tech Force marks a major milestone in federal human Defense Tech Force Opens 1000 Federal Jobs at $200K Salary capital strategy, particularly for defense and technology careers. By offering high salaries, meaningful work on mission-critical projects, and structured pathways for professional growth, the program addresses longstanding gaps in federal technical talent. As government agencies continue to integrate advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity platforms, and modern data systems, initiatives like Tech Force may set the template for future recruitment efforts and help ensure that the public sector remains competitive in a rapidly evolving technology environment.