GSA and FedRAMP Announce Major Initiative: Prioritizing 20x Authorizations for AI Cloud Solutions

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) announced that FedRAMP will begin prioritizing the authorization of AI-based cloud services that provide access to conversational AI engines designed for routine and repeated use by federal workers.

This initiative is the result of a recommendation from the FedRAMP Board and the U.S. Chief Information Officers Council and focuses on specific enterprise-grade offerings that have demand within the government, are included in the GSA Multiple Award Scheduleprogram, and are able to meet 20x pilot authorization requirements within two months of qualification. The full criteria and process for prioritization is publicly shared on fedramp.gov/ai as required by the FedRAMP Authorization Act.

"FedRAMP 20x is removing the historic blockers that stopped innovative companies from selling to government. If you're deployed on modern cloud infrastructure and following industry best-practices then FedRAMP 20x is designed for you," said GSA Deputy Administrator Stephen Ehikian. "In the 20x Phase One pilot, automated validation enables tech companies to rapidly showcase their security posture. This expedited authorization process not only shortens the timeline from months to a few weeks but also delivers a deeper understanding of their security choices."

This accelerated prioritization aims to streamline the adoption of advanced AI capabilities across the federal government, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and innovation. FedRAMP, in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the CIO Council, will provide additional support to fast-track the authorization process for qualified AI cloud providers to ensure secure and compliant integration into federal agency operations.

"GSA is taking swift action to prioritize the acceleration of AI adoption across government and deliver on President Trump's AI Action Plan," said Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum. "Prioritizing FedRAMP reviews for AI solutions is a critical step in getting trusted AI tools deployed across government and in use to streamline operations and improve workflows."

FedRAMP is dedicated to providing access to the latest technology so agencies can meet their mission. FedRAMP surpassed the number of new authorizations so far in FY25, adding 124 new authorized cloud services on the FedRAMP Marketplace. FedRAMP's goal to get new services authorized in record time remains the program's number one priority, nevertheless, this intense focus will impact the timelines of other ongoing projects for the FedRAMP team.

"This is a transformative moment for federal cloud security and AI integration," said Technology Transformation Services Director and Deputy Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service Thomas Shedd. "The emphasis on AI adoption within government meets agencies where they are by providing them with access to authorized emerging technologies that have been vetted using FedRAMP's security standards. The strategic directive to rapidly deploy secure AI solutions across government is essential to moving agencies forward quickly and effectively. Our team is committed to this bold vision and will work diligently to ensure its success."

This is yet another initiative directly supporting the goals laid out in the White House's America's AI Action Plan to rapidly deploy secure AI solutions across government.

In a letter to the FedRAMP Board on August 12, 2025, the CIO Council urgently requested FedRAMP prioritize the authorization of AI-based cloud services that provide access to conversational AI engines that are designed for routine and repeated use by federal workers.

AI providers interested in submitting AI security packages can find detailed prioritization criteria and submission guidelines on FedRAMP.gov.

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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government. GSA manages a nationwide real estate portfolio of over 360 million rentable square feet, oversees more than $110 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivers technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA's mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

About FedRAMP: The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMPⓇ) is a government-wide program that provides a standardized, reusable approach to security assessment and authorization for cloud products and services. Its mission is to enable the adoption of authorized secure cloud solutions across the federal government. FedRAMP offers a searchable and sortable online repository of authorized cloud products and services on the FedRAMP Marketplace.

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