Building the Workforce to Build AI in Government

Implementing artificial intelligence (AI) is a focus of agencies across government. Quickly moving from pilot projects to use in mission-facing work, the technology is ready, but the workforce may not be. The success of AI in the public sector depends on people--a workforce that understands how to apply AI responsibly, govern it effectively, and integrate it into mission-critical work. As agencies confront talent shortages, evolving skill requirements, and growing competition from the private sector, building that workforce has become one of the most urgent challenges facing government leaders.

In this post, we'll take a look at three ideas for developing the workforce required to build, and responsibly use, AI at scale.

Funding the AI Future

The Healthcare Education in AI Literacy (HEAL A.I.) Act would establish a grant program to give medical schools up to $100,000 each year to help students and residents gain hands-on experience with AI tools. With the goal of supporting the next generation of doctors' understanding of AI's ability to improve patient care, streamline workflows, and enhance decision-making, the legislation provides for a total of $1 million in funding.

The grant program would be overseen by the Health Resources and Services Administration and run from fiscal year 2026 to 2030. Schools receiving the grant will be required to report to the Department of Health and Human Services about how they integrated AI education and training into their curriculum, the number of students that enrolled and completed at least one course funded by the grant, and any organizations that helped carry out programming made possible by the grant.

Public/Private Partnership

The Office of Personnel Management has launched the United States Tech Force, a recruiting platform to attract technologists to work for the federal government. Conducted in coordination with private sector companies, this program aims to get needed talent into the government quickly. People hired into the program would work in government for two years and then have the option to apply for a private-sector job with a partnering company. For the two years in government, participants work as part of a specific agency and report directly to agency leadership. They receive technical training, engage with industry leaders, and work closely with senior managers from companies partnering with Tech Force.

The first cohort of recruits will be roughly 1,000 individuals, recruited from private-sector roles ranging from early-career data scientists and engineers to engineering managers. Participants will be hired into agencies across government including the departments of State, Defense, Treasury, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Energy, the General Services Administration, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and more.

Crowdsourcing AI Success

The AI Center for Government, run by the Partnership for Public Service, is focused on providing education, programming, and collaboration opportunities to develop AI leaders in the public sector and build workforce and talent at agencies. As agencies move beyond learning what AI is to learning how to use it, programs like this can help drive secure and effective implementation of the technology that exists in the market today. In 2025, the program trained over 300 state and local civil servants across more than 30 states. A related program, Future Leaders in Public Service Internship, placed 17 interns across 11 different agencies in Maryland's government: introducing early-career talent to public-sector work.

To learn more about how government is advancing AI use, check out the following resources:

• Technology & Transformation Summit (March 17, 2026; Washington, DC) - Government leaders and industry experts explore the transformation of mission delivery through IT innovation, workforce development, cybersecurity, and cloud technology.
• Public Sector Workforce Modernization Summit (March 19, 2026; Reston, VA) - Attendees will learn about practical strategies to foster collaboration among geographically distributed teams, innovative uses of technology to support hybrid environments, and solutions to common challenges.
• DOD Cyber Workforce Summit (March 24-26, 2026; Washington, DC) - Hear directly from Department of War, Service leadership, and subject-matter experts and learn about the path forward toward cyber workforce readiness in support of operations in the information environment.
• GITEC'26 (May 3-5, 2026; Charlottesville, VA) - This event convenes senior federal leaders, industry innovators, and academic experts to explore the path forward for secure, data-driven, and AI-enabled government operations.
• Transforming Work: A Human Capital Approach to AI Adoption (white paper) - As AI transforms the workplace, Human Capital professionals stand at the intersection of technology and people. From recruitment and training to compliance and workforce design, they're using AI to improve hiring, personalize learning, and ensure safe, equitable workplaces. Success depends on more than technology--it's about building AI literacy, fostering adaptability, and reimagining how humans and machines collaborate.
• Artificial Intelligence Implementation Plan (white paper) - The Marine Corps' Artificial Intelligence Implementation Plan lays out a roadmap to bring AI into every level of operations, from tactical decision-making to enterprise support. It emphasizes building a strong digital foundation through data governance, infrastructure, and workforce training, while piloting transformation teams to accelerate adoption. The plan also addresses governance, responsible use, and partnerships with industry and academia to ensure innovation aligns with mission needs.
• Leveraging Generative AI Technology in the Workplace (white paper) - The integration of artificial intelligence presents significant opportunities to revolutionize various aspects of the workplace, particularly in education and skill development, implementation and operational efficiency, and support for employees facing increasing workloads. This document outlines several key applications of AI, including the creation of AI-powered learning assistants and personalized learning paths to enhance employee skills.

For more information on workforce trends and AI use in government, search for additional events and resources on GovEvents and GovWhitePapers.