White House app hitting millions of phones alarms ​experts warning of 'backdoor' access

The Trump administration is ordering federal agencies to install the White House's new app on the government-issued phones of millions of employees in a move IT experts are calling "dangerous" and unprecedented, according to a report from Government Executive published Friday.

The app, launched in March, promises users "unfiltered" access to the administration's priorities and includes a feed of presidential social media posts, policy announcements, and even a button that lets users send a pre-written text reading "Greatest President Ever!" to Trump.

The Federal Aviation Administration told employees Friday its IT team will automatically install "The White House" application on all FAA-issued iPhones and iPads "as mandated by the White House." Internal communications obtained by Government Executive show automatic downloads will begin at one agency next week.

Sonny Hashmi, a former longtime government IT executive, warned that "any app that is installed on government issued devices can potentially create backdoor access to government networks behind the firewall." Cybersecurity researchers previously flagged the app for sharing user data with third parties.

Former government tech official David Nesting was blunt about the move, telling Government Executive, "It's just making sure all federal employees are forced to see the same propaganda they push out to the public."

The push fits a broader administration pattern of using official channels to target political opponents and tighten control over a federal workforce already under pressure.