Odd Lots

Scott Kupor's New Plan to Bring Tech Workers Into the Federal Government

135 snips
Dec 25, 2025
Scott Kupor, Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and former partner at Andreessen Horowitz, discusses his mission to inject tech talent into the federal government. He introduces the US Tech Force, aimed at recruiting top engineers and AI experts for two-year stints. Kupor reveals challenges in attracting tech workers, emphasizing culture over compensation. He proposes merit-based hiring, abandoning degree requirements, and revolutionizing performance evaluations, all while addressing bureaucracy to streamline operations and enhance government modernization.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
ADVICE

Use Technical Assessments Upfront

  • Reintroduce validated skills assessments (coding tests) rather than relying on self-attestation.
  • Use industry-standard technical tests to level and grade applicants before interviews.
INSIGHT

Performance Ratings Are Inflated

  • Federal performance ratings are heavily inflated with most employees receiving top scores.
  • OPM plans forced distributions and manager training to create real differentiation and accountability.
ADVICE

Teach Managers To Manage

  • Train supervisors in frequent one-on-one management and performance conversations.
  • Make managers responsible for ongoing feedback and development, not just annual reviews.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app