US Department of Interior moves back from Google Apps to Office 365

Laptop with Office 365 (Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

The U.S. Department of Interior will move 84,500 employees from Google apps to Office 365.
The new contract is worth $94 million and last 10 years.
The contract went through without protest.

A new $94 million contract has been awarded to Microsoft that will see 84,500 users from the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) to migrate from Google apps. Previous battles between the the DOI using Google apps or Office 365 led to a lawsuit from Google as reported by Engadget. Federal News Network reports that this latest contract went through without protest, which "essentially means one of the government's largest user of the search giant's tools decided to go back to Microsoft" according to Federal News Network.

Federal News Network pointed out the DOI's goals from a work statement:

"The cloud based solution will support DOI employees by improving work collaboration methods, documentation flows, communication capabilities, streamlined email usage and management and overall increased business performance of DOI's mission, cost and support objectives. DOI goals include developing an integrated partnership to build a project that transitions accounts, data, technical controls, authentication or access capabilities and applications that make up the current cloud email and collaboration system into a modernized, secure, service enriched, email and collaboration system."

While the DOI is switching to Office 365, Federal News Network points out that several government agencies continue to use Google apps, including General Services Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.