What Is Login.gov?

Login.gov is the U.S. government's shared sign-in service: one account and password that gives you secure, private access to the websites of participating government agencies. It is meant for individuals who need to reach federal services online, and it also serves as the identity layer that agencies can adopt instead of building their own login systems.

What it actually does

Instead of creating a separate username and password for every agency site, you create a single Login.gov account and reuse it wherever Login.gov is accepted. The stated purpose is secure, private access — the service handles the sign-in step so agencies don't have to.

Login.gov is not a single government portal where all services live. It is the account and authentication layer that participating agencies plug into. Whether a specific agency or benefit program uses it depends on that agency's own setup.

Who it's for

Why agencies use it

According to Login.gov, the service handles software development, security operations, and customer support on behalf of partner agencies — so an agency doesn't have to build and maintain those capabilities itself. That is the core trade-off: agencies give up some control over the sign-in experience in exchange for not running identity infrastructure in-house.

What to expect as an individual

• You create one account rather than many.
• The same credentials work across every participating agency that accepts Login.gov.
• The account is tied to identity verification and security practices set by the service, not by each individual agency.

If you are trying to reach a specific government service, check whether that agency lists Login.gov as a sign-in option before creating an account — not every agency participates.