- Millions of eligible federal users to get Microsoft 365 Copilot free for up to 12 months under OneGov.
- GSA and Microsoft tout potential first-year savings of about US$3bn across cloud and security tools.
What happened: OneGov pact puts Copilot into federal hands
Microsoft and the US General Services Administration (GSA) announced a government-wide OneGov agreement covering AI productivity tools and discounted cloud services. Agencies can opt in through September 2026; the offer includes free access to Microsoft 365 Copilot for a year and reduced pricing on Azure, security, and Dynamics suites. (GSA news release; Microsoft blog).
Coverage from independent outlets says the arrangement could save up to US$3bn in the first year and waives some fees such as Azure egress for participating agencies.
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Why it’s important
A friendlier buying route for AI could speed modernisation across federal agencies. The plan aligns with America’s AI Action Plan, which emphasises rapid adoption and infrastructure build-out. But big questions remain: can agencies deploy safely at scale, and do promised savings hold up once training, change management and security hardening are factored in?
There’s also market impact to watch. Centralised discounts risk deepening reliance on one vendor, and procurement critics will probe how interoperability, data residency and exit options are protected. Execution—not headlines—will decide the outcome: if power, talent and governance fall short, free licences may sit idle; if they land well, agencies could bank real efficiency gains.
