Microsoft Copilot AI Arrives Free for Millions of US Government Workers, Promising Billions in Savings

Millions of US federal government workers will soon have access to Microsoft Copilot AI services on their devices at no extra cost. This initiative comes from a recent agreement between Microsoft and the US General Services Administration (GSA), expected to save taxpayers $3.1 billion in its first year.

The core of this agreement is a full year of Microsoft 365 Copilot included for government employees using the high-security G5 license. The goal is clear: to get modern AI tools into the hands of public servants quickly and securely, improving government operations and efficiency.

Microsoft pushes the US government into the AI era

This agreement puts the US government at the forefront of AI adoption, responding directly to the administration’s AI Action Plan. The plan focuses on applying AI across government tasks—from managing citizen inquiries to analyzing complex data sets.

FAS Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum described the initiative as “a paradigm shift in federal procurement,” highlighting the cost savings achieved by leveraging the entire federal government’s purchasing power.

The free Copilot offer is for users on the Microsoft 365 G5 plan, the premium tier used by departments handling sensitive information with strict security needs. Beyond that, the deal supports agencies in automating routine tasks, allowing staff to concentrate on more important work.

It also lowers barriers for technology modernization by offering significant discounts on Azure cloud services and removing data transfer fees. This helps eliminate obstacles that have historically slowed collaboration between government departments.

Security is not an afterthought

Security concerns come naturally when AI gains access to government systems. Microsoft addresses these concerns by ensuring its core cloud and AI services have passed FedRAMP High security authorization, a key standard for managing sensitive government data.

While full FedRAMP High certification for Copilot is expected soon, the Department of Defense has already granted provisional approval. The package also includes advanced security tools like Microsoft Sentinel and Entra ID to support the government’s zero trust security framework.

GSA Deputy Administrator Stephen Ehikian urged agencies to adopt these new tools, emphasizing their importance in streamlining operations, reducing costs, and improving outcomes.

Helping government agencies to use AI effectively

Microsoft is investing $20 million in support and training to help agencies make the most of these AI tools. This includes workshops focused on maximizing benefits and identifying further opportunities to reduce waste.

The entire package is projected to deliver over $6 billion in value over the next three years. Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s Chairman and CEO, highlighted how this deal will help federal agencies improve citizen services, strengthen security, and save taxpayers more than $3 billion in the first year alone.

For millions of government employees, this means an AI-powered assistant will soon be part of their daily workflow, helping them work smarter and more efficiently.

For those interested in learning more about AI tools and training, resources are available at Complete AI Training.