The White House gave 30 days to government agencies to make sure they don't have Chinese-owned TikTok on federal devices and systems.
The Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young told agencies they would have to adjust information technology contracts in order to ensure vendors keep U.S. data safe by eliminating the use of TikTok on their devices and systems.
TikTok has said the concerns are fueled by misinformation. The action does not affect the more than 100 million Americans who use TikTok on private or company-owned devices.
In December, Congress voted to ban federal employees from using the Chinese-owned video app on government-owned devices and gave the Biden administration 60 days to issue agency directives. The vote was the latest action taken by U.S. lawmakers to crack down on Chinese companies amid national security fears that Beijing could spy on Americans.
The guidance is part of the Administration's commitment to securing our digital infrastructure and protecting the American people's security and privacy, according to the Federal Chief Information Security Officer Chris DeRusha. Several government agencies, including the White House, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and the State Department, had banned TikTok from government devices before the vote.
Young's memo said the ban does not apply if there are national security, law enforcement or security research activities, but agency leadership must approve these activities.
The memo said within 90 days agencies must address any use of TikTok by IT vendors through contracts and with 120 days agencies will include a new prohibition on TikTok in all new solicitations. The federal contractor ban doesn't apply to equipment used in government work, but it doesn't include equipment acquired by a federal contractor incidental to a federal contract.