Who we are
We are the .gov registry. We're a team of designers, developers, and product people. We help government organizations in the U.S. gain public trust by making .gov a well-known, reliable, and secure space online. The .gov registry is part of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
What we do
We manage the .gov domain registry. This includes the .gov registrar.
- A registry contains domain names and registrant information for a top-level domain (like .gov, .com, or .us).
- A registrar manages domain name registration.
We are the authoritative source for all .gov domain names and registrants
We manage the authoritative record of all .gov domain names and their registrants. We ensure that .gov domain names resolve in the global domain name system (DNS). DNS maps easy-to-remember names to hard-to-recall numbers. For example, this allows us to use “cisa.gov” instead of something like “104.106.178.124.”
We manage .gov domain name registration
We manage domain name registration for .gov. You can only request and register .gov domain names through the .gov registrar. We make it easy for eligible government organizations to register .gov domains. We verify the identity and eligibility of everyone who requests a .gov domain.
We provide critical infrastructure for governments at all levels
.Gov domains are critical to providing access to public services. We make .gov a trusted, secure space by:
- Using multi-factor authentication for all accounts in our domain registration and management system
- Preloading all new domains. This action requires browsers to use a secure HTTPS connection with your website. This ensures that the content you publish is exactly what your visitors get.
- Administering our domain requirements to protect the integrity of .gov
- Publishing the complete list of .gov domains
- Recommending security best practices for .gov domain holders
- Securing the .gov namespace with ongoing improvements
Follow our product strategy and development activities on GitHub.
We offer support for your .gov domain
What we offer
Domain registration: Start a .gov domain request or learn about the information you'll need to complete your request.
Requirements for requesting a .gov domain
- You must be a government employee, or be working on behalf of a government organization, to request a .gov domain.
- You must have a Login.gov account. Login.gov provides a simple and secure process for signing in to many government services with one account.
- Before you request your first .gov domain, you must verify your identity with Login.gov. This is a necessary layer of security that requires you to prove you are you, and not someone pretending to be you. Get help with Login.gov.
If you have the information you need, requesting your domain might take around 15 minutes.
Domain name consultation: If you need help coming up with your .gov domain name, contact us.
Domain management support: Once your .gov domain is up and running we’ll support you.
- Check the status of your domain requests and manage your registered domains.
- Stay informed about domain security best practices.
- Edit information about your contacts or your domain (like changes to your DNS settings) anytime.
What we don’t offer
While we’re continuously improving our services, you’ll need some services to get online that we don’t offer.
- We don’t offer DNS hosting.
- We don’t host .gov websites or email.
FAQs
You must be a government employee, or be working on behalf of a government organization, to request a . gov domain. You must have a Login.gov account.
How much does a .gov domain cost? ›
gov domains are FREE!
Does GoDaddy host .gov domains? ›
This is often done through your domain registrar, like GoDaddy or NameCheap. Since DotGov is managing the top level domain, local governments need to host their own DNS. We recommend CloudFlare for this because they are best in class and have a generous free tier that many of our customers find more than sufficient.
What does the government provide for its citizens? ›
1. Social Security payments help 51 million Americans. 2. College loan programs help millions who might otherwise not be able to afford higher education.
Can anyone open a .gov website? ›
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) administers the . gov TLD and makes it available solely to U.S.-based government organizations and publicly controlled entities. For election offices and all qualifying entities, it's available at no cost.
Who owns the .gov domain? ›
gov is one of the original six top-level domains, defined in RFC 920. Though "originally intended for any kind of government office or agency", only U.S.-based government entities may register . gov domain names, a result of the Internet originating as a U.S. government-sponsored research network.
Are all .gov sites credible? ›
edu and . gov websites are credible, but beware of sites that use these suffixes in an attempt to mislead. Nonprofit websites may also contain reliable information, but take some time to consider the organization's purpose and agenda to determine if it could be biased.
Is .gov a good domain? ›
By using a . gov domain, a government organization can unequivocally establish its official status, signaling to the public that it is a legitimate and authorized government agency. Credibility and Trust: .
Are gov websites public domain? ›
These sites provide access to federal government resources - images, reports, maps, etc. While U.S. federal government documents are in the public domain, work done by private citizens and contractors is not.
Are .gov domains restricted? ›
A . gov domain must not be used for commercial purposes, such as advertising that benefits private individuals or entities.
Domain name registration is the process of finding a web address (like GoDaddy.com or LilysBikes.com), and then signing up to use it. You technically don't own the domain, but once you've registered it, it's yours to use for as long as you continue paying the annual registration fee.
What is Gov+? ›
written abbreviation for government: used to show that an internet address belongs to a government organization: www.nasa.gov.
How to get $540 a month from the government? ›
Check if you qualify for the Golden State Stimulus II
- Filed your 2020 taxes by October 15, 2021.
- Had a California Adjusted Gross Income (CA AGI) of $1 to $75,000 for the 2020 tax year. ...
- Had wages of $0 to $75,000 for the 2020 tax year.
- Been a California resident for more than half of the 2020 tax year.
Benefits.gov is the official benefits website of the U.S. government that serves as a centralized educational resource for over 1,000 government benefits.
How many U.S. citizens are on welfare? ›
There were 70 million people on the Social Security Administration (SSA)'s welfare programs in the United States in 2021. Welfare programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid provide vital financial support for individuals and families who are in difficult situations.
Who assigns .gov domains? ›
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has the authority to oversee and issue new . gov domains via the . GOV Domain Name Registration Service.
How do I create a .gov account? ›
- Click “Create Account.”
- Enter your email and click “Submit.”
- Enter your phone number and request a security code. • Enter a phone number at which you can get phone calls or text messages. If you have a landline, you must. receive your security code by phone call. ...
- Save your personal key. Enter your personal key.
Look at the three letters at the end of the site's domain name, such as “edu” (educational), “gov” (government), “org” (nonprofit), and “com” (commercial). Generally, . edu and . gov websites are credible, but beware of sites that use these suffixes in an attempt to mislead.
Why move to a .gov domain? ›
ca.gov” domains provide greater security and make it significantly more challenging for malicious actors to impersonate government websites. This transition is seen as a step toward safer and more accurate website access for communities in California.
