OpenAI is ending its pilot program that provided federal agencies with ChatGPT Enterprise access for $1 per year. The initiative, which began in August 2025 through the General Services Administration’s OneGov marketplace, will be replaced by a usage-based pricing model.
Under the new structure, government entities will receive a 50% discount on standard rates. This agreement is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2026, and will remain in place for more than two years. Agencies have approximately one year to incorporate these costs into their budgets.
During the pilot, roughly 3.5 million federal employees utilized the platform. According to reports, the program resulted in $1.4 billion in taxpayer savings, primarily through improved operational efficiencies and a reduction in administrative paperwork.
OpenAI plans to expand the 50% discount eligibility to include state, local, and tribal governments. This strategy aligns with broader industry trends, as competitors like Anthropic have introduced similar pricing frameworks to secure government contracts.
