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About USA.gov

Official information and services from the U.S. government

Whatever you want or need from the U.S. government, it's here on USA.gov. You'll find a rich treasure of online information, services, and resources.


Our Vision

As the U.S. government's official web portal, USA.gov makes it easy for the public to get U.S. government information and services on the web. USA.gov also serves as the catalyst for a growing electronic government.


Who "Owns" USA.gov?

Many people and organizations have had a hand in creating our comprehensive, award-winning portal to government. And the government worked fast—Internet time—to launch it and to keep it responsive to the American people and the world.

USA.gov is an interagency initiative administered by the U.S. General Services Administration's Office of Citizen Services and Communications. It got its start when Internet entrepreneur Eric Brewer, whose early research was funded by the Department of Defense, offered to donate a powerful search engine to government. That gift helped accelerate the government's earlier work to create a government-wide portal.

In June 2000, President Clinton announced the gift from the Federal Search Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by Brewer, and instructed that an official U.S. web portal be launched within 90 days. USA.gov went online on September 22, 2000 under the name FirstGov.gov. The GSA and 22 federal agencies funded the initiative in 2001 and 2002. Since 2002, USA.gov has received an annual appropriation from the U.S. Congress. In January 2007, FirstGov.gov officially changed its name to USA.gov.

So, who "owns" USA.gov? The American people.


Social Media

We believe in delivering information and services in ways that are convenient for you. Check us out at Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.


Help Using USA.gov

Use our Help page or view our online tutorials to learn how to accomplish government tasks and access government information and services through USA.gov.


USA.gov News and Media

Learn more about USA.gov through our press releases, TV and radio public service announcements, e-mail alerts, RSS feeds, and e-newsletters.


USA.gov Linking Policy

USA.gov links to websites that provide useful, timely, citizen-centered government information and services consistent with our linking policy.


Other Important Notices

USA.gov provides more details on its policies and guidelines with regard to disclaimers of endorsements, web accessibility, free commercial downloads, and privacy and security matters on our Important Notices page.


Resources for Software Developers

USA.gov makes certain data files available to the public on our Developer Resources page. USA.gov provides these files solely for our users' information and convenience.


Customer Satisfaction

USA.gov is an Internet portal designed for you. We want to make your experience at our website productive, informative, and satisfying. Customer feedback is the driving force for how we organize and present government information, services, and transactions.

We participate in an online customer satisfaction survey using the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). This is a survey tool used in the private sector by some of the most successful American businesses. The survey randomly selects visitors to our site and asks them a series of questions about their online experience. The survey results provide us with information about how we measure up against some of the best commercial and government websites, and help us improve the website for you. We thank you for taking the time to fill out the survey when it appears on your screen during your visit.

If you would like to provide us with more specific comments, suggestions, and personal experiences while visiting USA.gov, please contact us.


Frequently Asked Questions About USA.gov

USA.gov provides answers to other frequently asked questions about USA.gov.


Contact Us

We invite you to contact us with feedback and suggestions about USA.gov to help us serve you better.

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Page Last Reviewed or Updated: December 18, 2008