Contractors in the IT space, especially those offering cloud services, may be familiar with the Federal Risk and Authorization Management program, also known as FedRAMP. FedRAMP underwent a major change recently as the Emerging Technology Prioritization Framework was eliminated as part of an executive action from the Trump Administration. In this blog, we’ll go over what the framework was, why it was eliminated, and what this means for contractors going forward.
What is FedRAMP?
Before we discuss the Emerging Technology Prioritization Framework, let’s first establish an understanding of what FedRAMP is. FedRAMP serves as the government’s centralized authority for cloud security authorizations. The program creates a government-wide cybersecurity review process for cloud services that works across all agencies. FedRAMP is required for contractors to sell cloud services to the government in order to ensure data protection.
What was the Emerging Technology Prioritization Framework?
The Emerging Technology Prioritization Framework was developed to allow certain cloud service providers to request prioritization in the authorization process. The FedRAMP process, while ultimately effective, can be intensely time-consuming, and the former administration was seeking a way to prioritize certain services to allow agencies to access them more quickly. The technologies prioritized in this framework were generative AI technologies, including chat interfaces, code-generation and debugging tools, prompt-based image generators, and related Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), which provide those functions.
The ultimate goal of the framework was to balance the need for government agencies to access cutting-edge AI technologies quickly with the need for security and protection of federal government data. In addition to clarifying which technologies could be prioritized, the framework also laid out how providers could request prioritization and how FedRAMP would be making determinations.
Why Was the Emerging Technology Prioritization Framework Eliminated?
The Emerging Technology Prioritization Framework was eliminated when the Trump Administration rescinded Biden’s Executive Order (EO) titled “Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence” which established the framework in the first place.
As we’ll discuss more below, the Trump Administration still plans to focus heavily on AI, but Trump has a different approach to how it’ll be governed, with less concerns about regulation and more focus on growth.
What Does This Mean for Federal Contractors?
The most important thing to understand about the elimination of the Emerging Technology Prioritization Framework is that the only aspect of the FedRAMP process it will affect is speed. While contractors offering AI services can no longer request to be prioritized through the FedRAMP authorization process, they can still gain FedRAMP authorization just like anyone else.
Additionally, contractors who are already authorized to provide AI technologies through FedRAMP are not affected, as the framework only pertains to the authorization process. For contractors concerned about the amount of time it may take to obtain a FedRAMP authorization without the Emerging Technologies Prioritization Framework, there is a workaround.
Companies who offer AI services but do not have FedRAMP authorization can partner with providers who are authorized through FedRAMP. While not always an ideal solution, partnering with an existing authorized provider can allow contractors to begin offering their services to the government immediately, and continue to work on their own FedRAMP authorization.
What is the Future of AI in the Federal Government?
As we discussed above, the Emerging Technology Prioritization Framework was established through a Biden EO which was then rescinded by the Trump administration. The reason for the recission was not because the Trump administration has issues with AI technologies—quite the opposite. A new Executive Order signed by President Trump on January 23, 2025, lays out the new administration’s stance on AI, which heavily emphasizes American “AI dominance” and condemns “onerous and unnecessary government control over the development of AI.”
What this means is that we can expect to see far fewer regulations surrounding AI development and use in the federal government. How exactly this will manifest in relation to FedRAMP is uncertain, but it’s entirely possible that the new administration will create a new way for AI technology providers to get their offerings in the hands of government agencies as quickly as possible.
Have Questions About the New Administration and its Impact on Your Contract?
The world of government contracting is complex and rapidly changing—especially with a new administration in the White House. If you’re looking for more information about new administration policies or contracting best practices, check out our blogs below:
- Federal Workforce Attrition Rates: Past Trends and Impact of the New Administration
- Top 10 Things Federal Contractors Should Do During a New Presidential Administration
- Key Executive Orders and their Implications for Federal Contractors
If you have questions about FedRAMP or your contract, one of our expert consultants will be happy to help!
