Federal employees in the US can once again download TikTok on their government-issued devices, following a Department of Justice memo lifting the 2022 prohibition. The reversal comes after a deal transferred TikTok’s US operations to a joint venture backed by Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX, with Oracle serving as the security partner.
Background on the TikTok ban for federal devices
A 2022 law had barred federal workers from using the short-form video app on official devices. However, the DOJ now states the restriction no longer applies due to the ownership restructuring, which retains a 19.9% stake for former owner ByteDance.
Presidential approval and agency discretion
The memo, as reported by Reuters, confirms that President Donald Trump has authorized employees of Executive Branch agencies to install TikTok on official devices, provided they comply with workplace policies and agency discretion. The app had faced broader bans in the US, though enforcement was briefly delayed after the initial restriction took effect.
Trump had previously urged service providers to restore access, leading to a temporary reprieve before the latest policy shift. Agencies will now determine their own guidelines for implementation.
