‘TikTok may be used on government devices’: Trump administration removes TikTok ban on government phones, so employees are now free to doomscroll once again

The Trump administration has rescinded the previous ban on TikTok for government devices, allowing federal employees to once again install and use the popular app. TikTok was initially prohibited from being installed on government phones in 2022, due to concerns over potential ties between its parent company, ByteDance, and the Chinese government. However, this ban has been lifted, as the app is now majority-owned by an American company, despite ByteDance retaining around a 20% stake.

The decision to lift the ban was announced in a memo by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which states, "TikTok may be used on government devices." The reasons behind the original ban have not been disclosed, though discussions in the Senate reportedly focused on data collection and the app's potential influence from the Chinese government.

The ban was enforced in 2025, when TikTok was briefly taken offline in the US, forcing ByteDance to either sell the app to American owners or face a permanent ban in the country. The two parties eventually agreed to establish a separate American version of TikTok, controlled by an American joint venture.

Since the ban was lifted, various government departments, including the Department of Transportation, Treasury Department, and Health and Human Services, have created official accounts on TikTok and began posting content. The White House also maintains an official account, primarily featuring hype edits of the President.