US Government to Use AI on Personnel Files as Trump Pushes Tech-Driven Overhaul

Washington, D.C. — April 10, 2025 — In a landmark move signaling the federal government’s deeper embrace of artificial intelligence, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced it will begin deploying AI tools to analyze and clean up federal worker personnel files. The initiative, disclosed in a privacy impact assessment released Wednesday, is part of a broader White House strategy to modernize government services and cut bureaucratic inefficiencies.

This marks one of the first official acknowledgments of the use of AI on sensitive federal data, a topic that has sparked legal and ethical debates within civil rights groups and privacy advocates.

AI to Modernize Legacy Systems

The OPM, which oversees human resources for millions of federal employees, said the AI deployment will begin this year. It aims to correct inaccuracies in electronic personnel records using “stateless” AI models — tools that do not retain or learn from the data they process. According to the agency, only approved officials and vetted contractors will operate the systems, and no personal data will be used to train future AI systems.

“Modernizing our data infrastructure is essential,” OPM said in its memo. “This effort will enhance efficiency while safeguarding privacy.”

Currently, OPM still processes federal retirement claims by hand, some of which are stored in a former limestone mine in Pennsylvania — a long-standing symbol of outdated government systems.

Trump Administration Pushes Aggressive AI Adoption

The move comes just a week after President Donald Trump signed an executive order revoking President Biden’s more cautious AI policy, which Trump criticized for “putting up barriers to American AI innovation.” The Trump White House has since encouraged federal agencies to “lean forward” in adopting AI across all departments, including human resources, defense, and public service.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the OPM initiative on Wednesday, calling it “historic” and a key component of Trump’s government efficiency drive.

“This project will usher in historic efficiency at OPM and ensure taxpayer dollars are better spent,” Leavitt said.

Musk’s DOGE Teams Fuel AI Rollout

The AI project is reportedly supported by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a controversial entity spearheading Trump’s AI-first reforms. DOGE teams have been working across agencies, analyzing databases to recommend spending cuts, process automation, and workforce downsizing — efforts that have faced internal resistance and multiple lawsuits from federal employees and unions concerned about data privacy and job security.

The use of AI on sensitive personnel records has drawn particular scrutiny from civil liberties groups who fear algorithmic bias and data misuse, especially under minimal oversight. However, the White House insists safeguards are in place.

“The models are stateless and secure,” said an OPM spokesperson. “We are confident this initiative will not only be efficient but ethically sound.”