June 24, 2025 – U.S. House of Representatives staff have been instructed to cease using WhatsApp on government-issued devices following a directive from the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Axios reported. The ban, announced via email on Monday, encompasses all versions of the messaging app—mobile, desktop, and web—across devices managed by the House.
In the email, the CAO cited concerns raised by the Office of Cybersecurity, which deemed WhatsApp a “high-risk platform” due to inadequate transparency around user data protection, the absence of encrypted data storage, and potential vulnerabilities during usage. The CAO emphasized these factors as critical threats to institutional security.
To mitigate disruptions, the CAO outlined approved alternatives, including Microsoft Teams, Wickr, Signal, iMessage, and FaceTime. Employees were also urged to remain vigilant against phishing attempts targeting government communications.
Meta spokesperson Andy Stone pushed back against the decision on social platform X, stating, “We categorically disagree with the CAO’s assessment. WhatsApp is utilized daily by House members and staff, and we are committed to securing formal authorization akin to that granted to Senate users. Our end-to-end encryption ensures only intended recipients can access messages—a feature lacking in most apps endorsed by the CAO.” Stone highlighted WhatsApp’s default encryption as a superior safeguard compared to alternatives on the approved list.
This move follows a broader crackdown on perceived high-risk applications by the CAO, including generative AI tools like ChatGPT, TikTok, DeepSeek (already banned by several state and federal agencies), and Microsoft Copilot. The restrictions reflect escalating efforts to tighten cybersecurity protocols across government networks.
