Newly appointed government leader and former Tesla engineer tells staff ‘AI-first’ is the future

Newly appointed Technology Transformation Services Director Thomas Shedd announced plans to implement an “AI-first strategy” at the General Services Administration, signaling a major shift in the agency’s technological approach.

New leadership vision and direction: The GSA is pursuing an ambitious transformation under Shedd, a former Tesla software engineer, to operate more like a startup software company.

• Shedd aims to automate internal tasks and create a centralized repository for government data
• The initiative includes developing “AI coding agents” for deployment across federal agencies
• There is particular focus on automating financial tasks and processes within government operations

Personnel shifts and organizational changes: Recent appointments reflect growing influence of Elon Musk associates within federal technology leadership.

• Multiple Musk-affiliated individuals have secured high-level positions at both GSA and the Office of Personnel Management
• The United States Digital Services has been rebranded as DOGE and is positioned as a key pillar of the new technology strategy
• Staff have reported unexpected meetings and requirements to present code to unidentified young engineers

Workplace uncertainty: The transition has created significant confusion and concern among GSA employees.

• Shedd was unable to provide clear answers about staff resignations, return-to-office policies, or potential job cuts
• When questioned about working hours, Shedd indicated uncertainty about whether staff would need to work beyond 40 hours per week
• Workforce reductions at TTS appear likely, though specific details were not provided

Implementation challenges: The ambitious automation agenda faces several practical hurdles.

• Cybersecurity experts have raised concerns about the complexities involved in automating government processes
• Questions remain about privacy compliance for the proposed centralized federal data repository
• The rapid pace of change has created operational uncertainty within the agency

Looking ahead – Balancing innovation and stability: While the GSA’s AI-first strategy represents a bold technological vision, the lack of clear implementation details and employee protections raises questions about the initiative’s long-term viability and impact on the federal workforce.