US government launches two‑year hiring blitz for AI and tech engineers

Summary

The US federal government has kicked off a campaign to hire around 1,000 engineers for two‑year stints focused on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics and other high‑impact tech roles. According to officials quoted by Reuters, the engineers will be embedded across agencies to work on concrete projects, from building digital platforms for new savings accounts for children to modernizing critical infrastructure. The program is part of the Trump administration’s broader AI agenda and is being framed as a way to bring Silicon Valley‑level talent into public service, with companies like Apple, Google and Nvidia pledging to consider alumni for private‑sector roles afterward. Unlike traditional civil‑service hiring, these roles are time‑boxed and project‑oriented, which could make them more attractive to mid‑career technologists. If the effort scales, it could help the federal government close a chronic AI talent gap and give Washington more in‑house expertise as it sets rules and priorities for the AI economy.