The U.S. government is making a clear push to modernize its technical talent pool. On Monday, federal officials launched Tech Force, a new initiative designed to close critical skills gaps in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and software engineering.
Among the nearly 30 private-sector partners are Coinbase and Robinhood, signaling growing recognition of crypto expertise inside government.
Under the program, participating companies will lend workers to federal agencies for one- to two-year assignments. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is targeting 1,000 early-career professionals and experienced managers, drawing talent from Big Tech and high-growth technology firms. Partners include Apple, Amazon Web Services, Nvidia, OpenAI, and now major crypto platforms.
Tech Force participants will be deployed across key agencies, including the Treasury Department, the Commerce Department, and the IRS. These agencies will hire and fund the roles, while private-sector partners support training and onboarding. The goal is simple: bring real-world technical expertise directly into government operations.
OPM Director Scott Kupor told CNBC that only about 7% of the federal workforce is early in their careers, typically with five to seven years of experience. In the broader labor market, that figure is closer to 25%. Tech Force is designed to close that gap.
The inclusion of Coinbase and Robinhood highlights how deeply crypto and blockchain technology are becoming embedded in the financial system. Federal agencies increasingly need specialists who understand digital assets, blockchain infrastructure, and crypto market mechanics as regulation and oversight evolve.
Kupor emphasized that the initiative also aims to change perceptions about public-sector work. Government roles, he said, are challenging, complex, and impactful. After completing their terms, participants can return to the private sector with experience that future employers value.
To support long-term career growth, the OPM and its private partners will host a job fair for workers completing their government service. This step addresses a common concern among early-career professionals considering public-sector roles: what comes next.
The list of private-sector partners spans the technology landscape, including Adobe, AMD, Google Public Sector, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, Oracle, Palantir, Salesforce, Snowflake, Uber, Workday, xAI, and Zoom, among others.
Crypto companies have already played a role in government work, frequently assisting agencies with tracking cryptocurrency flows for criminal investigations and regulatory enforcement. Tech Force takes that collaboration a step further by placing crypto expertise inside the government itself.
As digital assets continue to intersect with national finance and security, this initiative shows the government is no longer watching from the sidelines. It is actively building the talent needed to keep up.
