OPM has not identified AI talent gaps across the federal civilian AI workforce, and needs to create a new AI job series for federal workers, said Rep. Mace, R-S.C. Image: William Potter/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffFederal agency needs for employees with expertise in artificial intelligence have drawn renewed attention, with a hearing in a House subcommittee and new calls to pass several bills pending in Congress.
“It’s critical the federal government have an appropriate AI workforce. I have a bill the committee reported last year that requires federal managers to be trained on AI, so the government can deploy it wisely,” said Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., chair of an Oversight and Reform Committee panel on government IT.
“We had the Defense Department’s Chief AI officer testify before this subcommittee, and it’s clear DoD is at least making progress in this space. But the Office of Personnel Management is another story. It was tasked three years ago by Congress with identifying AI talent gaps across the federal civilian AI workforce, and with creating a new AI job series for federal workers. It has done neither. We’re still waiting,” she added.
Ranking Democrat Rep. Gerald Connolly of Virginia meanwhile said he plans to soon reintroduce a bill to increase the availability and quality of paid internships across the enterprise of government. “To remain competitive with the private sector, the federal government must nurture its own talent pipeline,” he said.
“The federal government must model these internship programs and find ways to get great talent into agencies whether it is for a quick stint or a lifelong career. Even a short time in the government can be valuable and provides an opportunity to share knowledge between both the public and private sector,” he said, noting that an executive order issued last fall called on agencies to accelerate the hiring of AI professionals as part of a government-wide AI talent surge.
“We also cannot forget about our current federal employees and must provide them with technical and conceptual AI training resources,” he said. “We must make this training more than just an AI awareness exercise and ensure that such training enables employees to harness the power of AI to do their jobs smarter, faster, and to greater effect.”
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