Overview
Gregory (Greg) Barbaccia joined the Office of Management and Budget as federal chief information officer in January 2025 after a career that included approximately a decade at Palantir. He was also federal chief AI officer, responsible for government-wide technology policy. OMB confirmed his departure effective August 31, 2026; reporting confirmed that he returned to Palantir.
Palantir → OMB
Nextgov/FCW documented Barbaccia's prior work at Palantir and his January 2025 OMB appointment. The federal CIO role covers technology policy, major IT investment coordination and agency modernization oversight. The official role falls within OMB, whose director was Russell Vought. Prior Palantir employment is not evidence that Barbaccia represented Palantir in office. [1]
OMB → Palantir
Nextgov/FCW reported July 31, 2026 that the GSA head publicly announced Barbaccia would be returning to Palantir and that two people familiar with the arrangement confirmed the move. FedScoop reported September 30 that Barbaccia had returned. The transfer establishes a revolving-door personnel pathway; specific contracts, recusals and policy effects require independent records. [2]
Authority boundary
Barbaccia's CIO position is distinct from being the formal USDS administrator or a DOGE technical team leader. There is no established evidence here that Barbaccia personally directed the IRS unified API contract or accepted instructions from Peter Thiel. [3]
Simultaneous acting directorship at GSA, February 2026
The General Services Administration announced February 19, 2026 that Barbaccia, while remaining federal CIO at OMB, was appointed acting director of GSA’s Technology Transformation Services and senior adviser to the GSA administrator, effective that day. GSA described the dual position as part of its federal digital-delivery and procurement modernization work. This establishes another formally documented agency-leadership position; it does not establish responsibility for any named IRS procurement decision. [4]
Source records and limits
- Nextgov/FCW, July 7, 2026 — OMB CIO tenure and responsibilities
- Nextgov/FCW, July 31, 2026 — return to Palantir
- FedScoop, Sept. 30, 2026 — confirms return to Palantir
- GSA official announcement, Feb. 19, 2026 — acting TTS director / senior adviser concurrent with OMB CIO
Evidence standard: Employment, contract and reporting links are documented separately. A role or business connection alone is not proof of improper direction or a legal violation.