OpenAI secures $1 deal for ChatGPT Enterprise with US government
OpenAI has solidified its strategic push into the U.S. federal government, sealing a landmark agreement to provide every executive branch agency with access to ChatGPT Enterprise for a nominal fee of just one dollar over the next year. This unprecedented deal aims to accelerate the adoption of advanced artificial intelligence tools across federal operations, aligning with a core tenet of the Trump administration’s recently unveiled AI Action Plan.
The White House’s comprehensive plan, introduced in July, prioritizes the widespread integration of AI, expansion of crucial data center infrastructure, and the promotion of American AI innovation on a global scale. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman underscored the company’s commitment, stating, “One of the best ways to make sure AI works for everyone is to put it in the hands of the people serving our country.” He emphasized the partnership with the General Services Administration (GSA) as a direct effort to implement President Trump’s vision for AI, empowering public servants to better serve the American populace.
While framed as a public service initiative, the agreement simultaneously positions OpenAI advantageously against its competitors in the burgeoning government AI market. Just a day prior, the GSA had integrated OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude into its official government purchasing system, streamlining the process for agencies to acquire and deploy these models. However, the deep discount offered by OpenAI’s new partnership could significantly incentivize federal agencies to gravitate towards its platform over rival offerings.
Beyond the symbolic price point, the collaboration extends to comprehensive support for government users. OpenAI is committed to providing essential tools and training to facilitate the effective integration of ChatGPT into daily workflows. This includes the establishment of a dedicated online community for government employees and the provision of tailored introductory workshops through its OpenAI Academy, ensuring public servants can maximize the utility of the AI. Crucially, OpenAI has also provided assurances that government data, encompassing both inputs and outputs, will be strictly firewalled and will not be utilized to train or enhance its underlying models.
Early indicators suggest the potential for substantial efficiency gains. A recent pilot program involving employees of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania demonstrated that using ChatGPT resulted in an average time savings of approximately 95 minutes per day on routine administrative tasks. This builds on OpenAI’s existing footprint within the public sector, following the January launch of ChatGPT Gov, a version specifically designed for government use. At that time, OpenAI reported that over 90,000 users across more than 3,500 federal, state, and local government agencies had already exchanged over 18 million messages on the platform. Notable early adopters include the Air Force Research Laboratory, which leverages ChatGPT for administrative functions, and Los Alamos National Laboratory, utilizing it for scientific research.
This strategic maneuver also reflects a discernible warming of relations between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and the Trump administration. Since the commencement of President Donald Trump’s second term, Altman has engaged in several high-profile interactions, including joining Trump for a press conference and a lengthy one-on-one meeting in June. During a dinner at Trump’s New Jersey golf club that same month, the President publicly lauded Altman as “a very brilliant man,” signaling a growing rapport that may continue to shape the trajectory of AI adoption within the U.S. government.