White House mandates Login.gov as universal federal sign-on

The White House has finalized a mandate requiring federal agencies to adopt Login.gov as the universal single sign-on platform for most public-facing digital services. Through Memorandum M-26-18, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has established a two-year timeline for government-wide deployment.

Under the new policy, agencies must deploy Login.gov on websites designated as High Impact Service Providers within one year. All other covered public-facing websites must implement the service within two years, unless agencies provide a formal explanation to the OMB for non-compliance.

While the policy allows agencies to retain alternative identity providers if Login.gov cannot meet specific operational requirements or would place a significant burden on users, it directs agencies to phase out solutions that no longer meet those criteria. The General Services Administration (GSA) will oversee the transition by hosting industry days, publishing best-practice guides, and conducting quarterly meetings with agencies to monitor implementation and customer experience improvements.