Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), founder and co-chair of the Federal Workforce Caucus, introduced the Keep Federal Tech Talent Act, legislation that would let technologists and scientists in temporary federal roles, such as fellowships, move into permanent government careers. As agencies struggle to recruit and keep technical talent, the bill gives these public servants a clear pathway and real incentives to stay and keep serving their country.

Over the past two years, the Trump administration’s DOGE policies have forced out experienced federal employees and created a culture of fear inside federal agencies. This has exacerbated the long-term challenge that federal agencies have faced in recruiting and retaining the next generation of technical talent.

The administration launched the U.S. Tech Force, which places early-career technologists in federal agencies for two-year terms. The government needs this kind of talent, but two years is rarely long enough for a new hire to gain the experience needed to modernize complex federal systems or improve the services Americans depend on. And as the program stands, fellows who want to keep serving their country have no clear pathway or incentive to do so.

“Americans who want to serve their country deserve every opportunity to do so,” said Congressman Walkinshaw. “These professionals are writing code that delivers services to Americans, securing networks that keep our data safe, and supporting research that saves lives. If they want to keep serving, we should open the door to a long-term career in federal service.”

“For the federal government to deliver essential public services to the American people, we must hire and retain qualified personnel, including technology experts with specialized skill sets,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. “NFFE endorses the Keep Federal Tech Talent Act, which would help temporary federal workers in the tech sector build permanent careers in the civil service while expanding access to training and student loan assistance. These investments are critical to ensuring the government can recruit and retain the skilled personnel it needs. Thank you to Representative Walkinshaw for leading on this issue and his unwavering commitment to the federal workforce.”

“At a time when the federal workforce has just endured a massive loss of personnel and expertise in STEM and highly skilled roles, we look to Congress to find urgent solutions that strengthen the federal talent pipeline,” said Matt Biggs, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) President. “That’s why IFPTE supports the Keep Federal Tech Talent Act, legislation that seeks to ensure that temporary federal employees are given opportunities to continue their careers in the civil service. We thank Rep. Walkinshaw for introducing this necessary bill that will bolster the federal government’s research and technology workforce and provide federal agencies with talented and dedicated innovators who serve the American public." 

The Keep Federal Tech Talent Act would:

• Create a pathway for federal agencies to hire limited term employees in specialized technology and science roles, including software engineering, cybersecurity, AI, data science, and scientific research, into permanent federal careers when they meet the qualifications for an open role.
• Require agencies to help those who stay with student loan repayment or additional skills training.
• Require agencies to report each year to the Office of Personnel Management on how many workers convert and which positions they fill. 

As Walkinshaw fights to recruit technical talent into the federal workforce, he also continues to fight President Trump’s proposed federal pay freeze. “A pay freeze is a pay cut, and it’s one more barrier to attracting top talent,” said Walkinshaw. “We can’t ask these professionals to consider a career in government and then tell them their work isn’t worth fair pay.”

The full text of the Keep Federal Tech Talent Act is available here.

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