OpenAI Secures GSA Deal for ChatGPT Enterprise at $1

The U.S. federal government is poised for a significant leap in artificial intelligence integration following a landmark agreement between OpenAI and the General Services Administration (GSA). Under a “OneGov” partnership, OpenAI will provide its ChatGPT Enterprise to participating federal agencies for a nominal fee of just $1 per agency over the next year, a strategic maneuver that could redefine the landscape of government AI adoption.

This unprecedented deal grants every participating U.S. federal agency comprehensive access to ChatGPT Enterprise, including its leading frontier models. For an initial 60-day period, agencies will also benefit from unlimited use of advanced features such as Deep Research and Advanced Voice Mode. Beyond the technology itself, OpenAI is committed to fostering AI literacy within the federal workforce by providing educational tools, tailored introductory training through the OpenAI Academy, and establishing a dedicated government user community. OpenAI has assured that the enterprise-grade security and privacy measures mean business data will not be used to train or enhance its models, a crucial consideration for sensitive government operations.

This agreement is a direct outcome of the White House’s “America’s AI Action Plan” and the Trump administration’s broader push to solidify U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence. The GSA’s “OneGov” initiative, designed to centralize and streamline technology procurement, aims to unlock greater savings and efficiency by enabling direct contracts with technology developers. GSA Acting Administrator Michael Rigas emphasized that the effective use of AI is “critical to demonstrating we are the world’s AI leader,” while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed pride in partnering to empower public servants. The administration’s AI Action Plan, unveiled in late July 2025, outlines over 90 federal actions intended to accelerate AI deployment, ease regulations, and boost AI exports, signaling a notable policy shift from previous administrations.

The GSA’s strategic move places OpenAI at the forefront of the burgeoning government AI market, especially as it seeks to outpace rivals like Google and Anthropic. Just days prior to the OpenAI announcement, the GSA added OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude to its Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) program, simplifying procurement for federal agencies. While all three companies are now approved vendors, OpenAI’s distinct $1 per agency deal is seen as an aggressive play to secure early dominance, potentially undercutting competitors who are expected to charge standard commercial rates. Despite this, GSA Deputy Administrator Stephen Ehikian stated the agency’s aim is not to “pick winners or losers,” but to provide a maximum range of tools for federal employees to enhance productivity.

The potential benefits for federal agencies are substantial, ranging from automating back-office tasks to supporting critical mission functions such as real-time translation, cybersecurity, and large-scale data analysis. Early pilot programs within the government have already demonstrated significant efficiency gains, with some employees reportedly saving approximately 95 minutes per day on routine tasks by utilizing ChatGPT Enterprise. OpenAI envisions its tools helping government workers “spend less time on red tape and paperwork,” ultimately improving public services.

However, this rapid integration of advanced AI is not without its challenges and concerns. Critics have raised questions regarding privacy and data security, especially concerning how sensitive government information will be safeguarded within these broad AI tool deployments. Furthermore, reports have surfaced about the “hallucination” rates of some ChatGPT models in certain benchmarks, though OpenAI maintains ongoing research to address these issues. The GSA has stated its focus on procuring AI models that prioritize “truthfulness, accuracy, transparency, and freedom from ideological bias,” indicating an awareness of these critical considerations as AI becomes more deeply embedded in federal operations.

This $1 deal marks a bold and unprecedented step in accelerating AI adoption across the U.S. federal government, positioning OpenAI as a key enabler of the nation’s AI future.