Doubled Increase in Federal Cloud Contracts in a Year Due to Cutbacks in Bureaucratic Barriers
The Trump administration has launched a new initiative, FedRAMP 20x, to modernise and accelerate the U.S. Government's cloud software security authorisation process. The program aims to make FedRAMP authorisations faster, more scalable, flexible, and automated while maintaining strong security standards required for federal missions.
One of the key features of FedRAMP 20x is the dramatic reduction in authorisation time. The program has cut the average cloud software approval process from over a year to about five weeks for low-impact cloud systems. This represents a 20-fold speedup compared to traditional FedRAMP timelines, hence the “20x” name.
FedRAMP 20x leverages automation tools like git-native workflows, Terraform-driven deployment, and machine-readable live Key Security Indicators (KSIs) to provide continuous, real-time evidence of compliance. This automation reimagines the compliance validation process as faster, fully auditable, and transparent.
Currently, FedRAMP 20x applies primarily to cloud platforms with Low Impact Level authorisations. The program is testing its model in this scope before expanding to moderate-impact systems in future phases.
The initiative responds directly to the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Memorandum M-24-15, which mandated bold changes to modernise and streamline the government cloud authorisation process. The program’s philosophy is to shift from rigid documentation and negotiation to continuous monitoring of cloud provider change processes and empowering providers to deploy changes without prior explicit government approval.
Vendors like Meridian Knowledge Solutions and Zscaler have embraced the 20x approach, highlighting its capacity to improve security transparency and speed up government adoption of innovative cloud technologies.
The success of the FedRAMP approvals in FY 2025 is credited to the FedRAMP 20x program. The program is currently in the pilot phase and has been accepting test submissions since May. Future pilot project work for FedRAMP 20x will seek feedback from users to refine the new model.
The Trump administration has consolidated government IT purchasing under the General Services Administration (GSA) and initiated new deals with companies like Oracle, AWS, and the big AI firms to provide discounted access to their services for government buyers. The administration has also directed officials to overhaul the Federal Acquisition Regulation and has transitioned the standard model of purchasing from one-off deals to "government-wide acquisition contracts".
However, the GSA did not respond to additional questions about 20x's success thus far. As the program continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how it will impact the future of cloud software adoption and security within the U.S. Government.
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