Summary4 min read

The Daily Scoop Podcast

Episode: Why the White House's two-year Tech Force stints are aimed at young people’s approach to work

Host: Billy Mitchell
Date: March 26, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode examines the federal government's initiative to attract younger workers through its new “Tech Force” program, which features two-year stints designed to align with the modern workforce mindset. The discussion also covers President Trump's recent high-profile appointments to the White House's science and technology advisory panel, emphasizing the administration's efforts to involve top tech leaders in government science and technology policy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rethinking Federal Recruitment: The Tech Force Stint Approach

Modern Workplace Mindset:
OPM Director Scott Cooper emphasized that younger workers no longer view federal careers as lifetime commitments. Instead, they prefer shorter, mission-driven engagements.
- [00:50] Quote:
  "I don't think young people actually think about 40-year careers anymore. Instead, they think about small increments." – Scott Cooper (paraphrased by Billy Mitchell)
Purpose of Two-Year Terms:
The Tech Force program has been intentionally designed for two-year rotations to match this shift in thinking.

2. Questioning the “Stability” Draw for Young Talent

Historic Attraction to Job Security:
Traditional messaging focused on government stability may now be less compelling to Gen Z and Millennials.
Stability Debate in Congress:
Rep. Steny Hoyer pressed Cooper on whether the administration’s broader federal workforce policies undermine the appeal of stability.
- [02:10] Context:
  Hoyer referenced OMB Director Russell Vogt’s past statement that he wanted bureaucrats “to be traumatically affected” as a result of policy changes, suggesting the administration is shaking up longstanding job security.
- Cooper maintained:
  For many younger workers, stability is not the motivating factor it once was.
  
  "While there might have been a time when young people wanted that, I believe currently that young people have different focuses now." – Scott Cooper (as summarized by host, [02:58])

3. Addressing the Age Imbalance in the Federal Workforce

The government’s workforce has historically skewed older. Multiple administrations have sought to correct this through new programs and policies, with the Tech Force being the latest attempt.
Skepticism remains about whether these efforts can overcome past trends and effectively attract—and retain—young tech talent.

4. High-Profile Tech Appointments to White House Advisory Panel

President Trump announced a new, tech-heavy lineup for the revamped President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).
- [03:25] Quote:
  "Among the 13 appointees… were Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle's Larry Ellison, Google's Sergey Brin, and Nvidia's Jensen Huang." – Billy Mitchell
PCAST Overview:
The council, which advises the President on science and technology policy, will be co-chaired by David Sacks (AI and crypto czar) and Michael Kratsios (OSTP Director).
- Trump had previously reestablished this body by executive order in January 2025.

First Wave of Notable Appointees

[03:50] – Partial list includes:

Marc Andreessen (Andreessen Horowitz)
Safra Katz (Oracle)
Michael Dell (Dell Technologies)
Fred Ehrsam (Coinbase)
Jensen Huang (Nvidia)
Lisa Su (AMD)
Mark Zuckerberg (Meta)
Sergey Brin (Google)
Larry Ellison (Oracle)
Further appointees and the first PCAST meeting schedule are expected to be announced soon.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Workforce Mindset:
"I don't think young people actually think about 40-year careers anymore. Instead, they think about small increments." — Scott Cooper (paraphrased by Billy Mitchell, [00:50])
On the “Stability” Narrative:
"While there might have been a time when young people wanted that, I believe currently that young people have different focuses now." — Scott Cooper (via host, [02:58])
On PCAST’s Tech Line-up:
"Among the 13 appointees... were Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle's Larry Ellison, Google's Sergey Brin, and Nvidia's Jensen Huang." – Billy Mitchell ([03:25])

Segments & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Title | Summary | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00-01:30 | The Need for Change in Federal Hiring | Federal recruitment plans for young talent revolve around new paradigms.| | 01:30-02:58 | Congressional Oversight on Tech Force Approach | Cooper discusses the reasoning behind two-year stints and addresses the stability question. | | 03:10-04:15 | Science and Tech Advisory Panel Appointees | Overview of the new PCAST membership and its tech-industry leanings. |

Tone & Language

Throughout, the tone is informative and analytical, reflecting the serious implications for federal hiring and policy. The podcast maintains a direct and news-oriented delivery, focusing on facts, official statements, and notable appointments.

Conclusion

This episode offers a concise yet rich overview of current federal efforts to modernize its tech workforce strategy and integrate private sector expertise into White House science and technology policy. Key insights revolve around generational shifts in career values and the administration's pivot in both hiring and advisory approaches.

For more government technology news, visit FedScoop.com.

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Transcript3 lines

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Today on the Daily Scoop podcast from
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the Scoop News Group. Two year tech force stints are aimed at young people's approach to work, according to the head of OPM and President Trump taps Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison and more for the White House's Science and Technology Advisory Panel. It's Thursday, March 26, 2026. Welcome to the Daily Scoop Podcast where you'll hear the latest news and trends facing government leaders. I'm the host of the Daily Scoop Podcast, Billy Mitchell. Thanks so much for joining me. And now let's dive into the day's top headlines as the Trump administration makes a bid to hire more young people into the federal government via the Tech force. The leader of the Office of Personnel Management told lawmakers he doesn't believe stability is the biggest draw for the next generation. OPM Director Scott Cooper told lawmakers on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and the General Government at a Wednesday oversight hearing that he doesn't think young people actually think about 40 year careers anymore. Instead, he said, they think about small increments. Cooper said that's why the tech Force, the administration's program to fill federal tech vacancies with early career workers, was designed for two year increments. He later stated that he doesn't think stability for young people is the most compelling message. The comments arose in an exchange between Cooper and Representative Steny Hoyer, Democrat of Maryland, the ranking member of the subcommittee, about the message that OPM is sending to attract younger people to the federal government. The the federal workforce has long had over representation of older workers, which is an issue multiple administrations have aimed to address. The Tech Force is the latest attempt to remedy those proportions. That effort, however, follows the Trump administration's large scale efforts to reduce the number of federal employees, leading to some skepticism about how it will effectively attract talent. Hoyer probed Cooper about the stability question, specifically referencing comments from Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vogt, brought to light by ProPublica that he wanted bureaucrats to be traumatically affected by the administration's workforce policies. Hoyer explained that in doing so, the administration has undermined stability of the federal workforce. But in response, Cooper said that while there might have been a time when young people wanted that, he believes currently that young people have different focuses now. In other news, the technology industry is heavily represented in President Donald Trump's first list of appointees to restock a White House science and technology advisory panel. Among the 13 appointees to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and technology, or PCast, were Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle's Larry Ellison, Google's Sergey Brin and Nvidia's Jensen Huang. That panel will be co chaired by David Sacks, Trump's AI and crypto czar and Michael Kratzios, director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The PCAST has been around for decades as a way for the White House to receive feedback from scientists, engineers, technologists and representatives from the private sector. While Trump announced the reestablishment of the Council via executive order in January 2025, there hadn't yet been details on its membership. In addition to the Wednesday list, the White House said it expects to announce more appointees in the near future, along with information about the Council's first meeting. Trump's PCAST will include up to 24 members. The first round of appointees are Marc Andreessen, the co founder of VC firm Andreessen Horowitz Sergey Brin, co founder of Google Safra Katz, executive vice chair and former CEO of Oracle Michael Dell, founder, chairman and CEO of dell technologies Jacob DeWitt, co founder and CEO of Oklo Fred Air Sam, co founder of Coinbase Larry Ellison, co founder and CTO of Oracle David Friedberg, venture capitalist, founder of the Climate Corporation and co host of the all in podcast with David Sachs Jensen Huang, co founder and CEO of Nvidia Jeff John Martinez, a physics professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara and co winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize for Physics Bob Mumgaard, co founder and CEO of Commonwealth Fusion Systems Lisa Su, president and CEO of AMD and finally Mark Zuckerberg, co founder and CEO of Meta, formerly Facebook for more news at the intersection of the federal government and technology, make sure to visit fedscoop.com
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thanks so much for tuning in to another episode of the Daily Scoop Podcast, available on all podcast platforms. If you've already rated the podcast on your platform of choice, thanks so much. High ratings and good reviews of the show help more people to find it. The Daily Scoop Podcast is a production of the Scoop News Group in Washington, dc. Adam Butler and Carlin Fisher help put the show together and the entire Scoop News Group team contributes. We'll be back tomorrow with more top headlines. Until then, I'm your host. As always, Billy Mitchell. Thanks Watching for Thanks so much for listening.