FedRAMP 20x Class A pipeline opens under Consolidated Rules

On August 3, 2026, FedRAMP opened the FedRAMP 20x Class A submission pipeline. That date was set when FedRAMP published the Consolidated Rules for 2026 on June 25, 2026, and said FedRAMP 20x is no longer a pilot. It is now a widely available certification path for cloud service providers.

Class B and Class C 20x pipelines are scheduled to open on August 31, 2026. Marketplace listings for providers entering the initial implementation stage opened on July 6.

What changed

The Consolidated Rules package is the stable ruleset FedRAMP will use to review 20x submissions. The program is shifting from static authorization packages toward clearer, more measurable, and more reusable evidence, including machine-readable rule formats.

Class A is the entry-level 20x baseline and replaces FedRAMP Ready. FedRAMP says providers with a recent Readiness Assessment Report or a SOC 2 Type II can submit for Class A. Once a cloud service has a federal customer using it, providers generally have 12 months to begin moving to Class B or higher.

Rev5 does not disappear overnight. It remains available during the transition, with firm dates on the calendar:

• July 28, 2026: FedRAMP Ready became Legacy (no new Ready submissions)
• August 10, 2026: Temporary Rev5 Program Certification pipelines for eligible Class B and Class C providers (Ready Conversion and Lost Sponsor)
• January 1, 2027: Consolidated Rules become mandatory for all stakeholders
• June 11, 2027: FedRAMP stops accepting new Rev5 certification applications

A Class D (High) 20x pilot is still ahead, targeted for late 2026 into early 2027.

What to do now

1. If you are pursuing federal cloud work, read the Consolidated Rules for 2026 and the timeline before you assume Rev5 is still the default path.
2. Providers eyeing Class A should confirm whether an approved external framework assessment (for example, a recent SOC 2 Type II) fits the Class A entry rules, and plan the later move to Class B, C, or D.
3. Rev5 holders should treat January 1, 2027 as a hard planning date for adopting the new rules, not a distant sunset.
4. Read the FedRAMP page for how the classes, types, and assessor model fit together, and follow FedRAMP on this site for Class D pilot updates.