Trump Launches US Tech Force to Recruit 1,000 Private Sector Technologists for Government Roles Amid Ethics Concerns
Summary
Trump administration launches US Tech Force to recruit 1,000 private sector technologists for two-year government roles at $150,000-$200,000 salaries, partnering with companies like Palantir, Meta, and Oracle, while ethics experts warn of conflicts of interest since participants won't divest stocks while accessing sensitive government data.
Key Points
- Trump administration launches US Tech Force to recruit 1,000 technologists for two-year government stints starting as early as March, following the dismantling of existing tech teams like 18F and mass exodus of thousands of federal workers
- The program partners with 20 companies including Palantir, Meta, Oracle and Elon Musk's xAI to allow private sector employees to take leaves of absence while working for government agencies at salaries between $150,000-$200,000
- Ethics experts raise conflict of interest concerns as participating employees from private companies will not be required to divest from stocks while accessing sensitive government data and systems