Connect GovTribe MCP to Codex

Use the GovTribe plugin when available, or configure GovTribe MCP manually in Codex desktop, CLI, and IDE workflows.

Use Codex when you want GovTribe available while Codex works with a codebase, drafts documentation, or researches public-sector context. You can use the GovTribe plugin if it is available in your plugin directory, or configure the remote MCP server manually with a GovTribe MCP API key.

For general Codex MCP configuration behavior, see OpenAI's Model Context Protocol documentation for Codex.

Before you start

You need:

A GovTribe account with access to GovTribe MCP.
GovTribe credits enabled for your account. See Credits & usage if the MCP access page says credits must be enabled.
Codex in the desktop app, Codex CLI, or the Codex IDE extension.
For manual MCP configuration, a GovTribe MCP API key from the MCP access account page.

Keep MCP keys private

A GovTribe MCP API key allows Codex to use GovTribe MCP as your GovTribe user. Store it in an environment variable or secret manager, and revoke it from the MCP access page if it is exposed.

Use the GovTribe plugin when available

Open the Plugins directory in the desktop app and search for GovTribe. In Codex CLI, open the plugin browser with /plugins. Check that the listing names Government Executive Media Group LLC as the developer, then install it and complete the GovTribe connection prompts. Start a new chat before using the plugin for the first time.

Directory availability depends on your client and workspace. If GovTribe does not appear, use the manual MCP setup below. Plugin connection prompts and a manually configured MCP API key are separate setup paths; you do not need to create a manual key just to follow the plugin's connection flow.

Open the GovTribe plugin listing, or see OpenAI's plugin installation guidance for current client instructions.

Connect manually with Codex CLI

Set the GovTribe MCP API key in your shell, then add GovTribe as a remote MCP server.

Create a GovTribe MCP API key. Open MCP access, enable credits if prompted, choose Create Key, enter a name such as Codex, and store the key when GovTribe shows it.

Set the key as an environment variable. Export the key as GOVTRIBE_MCP_API_KEY in the shell where you run Codex.

Add the remote MCP server. Run codex mcp add with the GovTribe MCP server URL and the bearer-token environment variable.

Verify the server is configured. Run codex mcp list and confirm govtribe appears.

Start a Codex session and test the tools. In the Codex TUI, use /mcp to review active MCP servers, then ask Codex to list available GovTribe MCP tools or run a small GovTribe lookup.

Bash or zsh:

export GOVTRIBE_MCP_API_KEY="your_actual_api_key_here"

codex mcp add govtribe \
  --url https://govtribe.com/mcp \
  --bearer-token-env-var GOVTRIBE_MCP_API_KEY

Verify the configuration:

codex mcp list

Use the Codex IDE extension

The desktop app, Codex CLI, and the Codex IDE extension share manual MCP configuration on the same Codex host. After you add GovTribe MCP from the CLI, open the Codex IDE extension and start a new Codex session. Use the extension's MCP settings or the in-session MCP view to confirm the govtribe server is available before relying on it for a larger task.

If the IDE extension does not see GovTribe MCP, restart the IDE, confirm the same user profile is using the Codex configuration, and verify that GOVTRIBE_MCP_API_KEY is available to the environment where Codex runs.

Use manual MCP configuration in the desktop app

After configuring GovTribe with the CLI or config.toml, start a new chat on the same local Codex host in the desktop app. Confirm GovTribe tools are available. The desktop process must be able to read GOVTRIBE_MCP_API_KEY; a variable exported only in an unrelated terminal may not be available to it.

Configure with `config.toml`

Advanced users can configure the same server directly in Codex config.toml. By default, Codex uses ~/.codex/config.toml. Trusted projects can also use a project-scoped .codex/config.toml.

[mcp_servers.govtribe]
url = "https://govtribe.com/mcp"
bearer_token_env_var = "GOVTRIBE_MCP_API_KEY"

After editing the file, restart Codex and run codex mcp list or use /mcp in a Codex session to confirm the server is active.

Troubleshooting

Issue	What to check
GovTribe is absent from the plugin directory	Use manual MCP configuration, or ask your workspace administrator about plugin availability.
`govtribe` does not appear in `codex mcp list`	Run the `codex mcp add` command again, or confirm the `[mcp_servers.govtribe]` table exists in the Codex config file in use.
Codex reports an authentication error	Confirm `GOVTRIBE_MCP_API_KEY` is set in the environment where Codex starts and the key has not expired or been revoked. Disabling credits does not revoke the key.
A credit-billed GovTribe tool is blocked	Confirm GovTribe credits are enabled and available. Billing-exempt tools may remain available when credits are disabled.
The Codex IDE extension does not show GovTribe MCP	Restart the IDE extension and confirm it is using the same Codex configuration as the CLI.
A GovTribe tool is missing after an MCP update	Restart Codex, refresh MCP tools with `/mcp`, and review Update your AI application after a GovTribe MCP update.

GovTribe MCP: Manage GovTribe MCP access, supported AI tools, and API keys for developer clients.
Credits & usage: Enable credit-powered features, review balances, buy credit packs, configure auto-refill, and audit usage.
Connect GovTribe MCP to ChatGPT: Connect the GovTribe app inside ChatGPT.
Connect GovTribe MCP to Claude: Connect the GovTribe remote connector in Claude.
Connect GovTribe MCP to Microsoft 365 Copilot: Add GovTribe from the Microsoft 365 Copilot Agent Store.
GovTribe MCP for Developers: Connect GovTribe MCP to developer APIs, command-line MCP clients, and MCP Inspector.

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