What kind of documents can I find on GovInfo?

GovInfo provides access to a vast array of federal documents, including Congressional Bills (BILLS), the Federal Register (FR), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), United States Courts Opinions (USCOURTS), and Presidential Documents (CPD). Use the `list_collections` tool to see all available categories.

How do I find the actual text or PDF of a document?

The `get_package_summary` tool returns metadata which includes download links (URLs) for various formats like PDF, XML, or Text. You can then use those links to access the full document.

GovInfo MCP Server for Cursor 8 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: GovInfo
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

docs.cursor.com/context/model-context-protocol

Built by Vinkius GDPR 8 Tools IDE

Cursor is an AI-first code editor built on VS Code that integrates LLM-powered coding assistance directly into the development workflow. Its Agent mode enables autonomous multi-step coding tasks, and MCP support lets agents access external data sources and APIs during code generation.

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Open in ChatGPT Open in Claude Open in Perplexity

Vinkius supports streamable HTTP and SSE.

RecommendedModern Approach — Zero Configuration

Vinkius Desktop App

The modern way to manage MCP Servers — no config files, no terminal commands. Install GovInfo and 2,500+ MCP Servers from a single visual interface.

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Classic Setup·json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "govinfo": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

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Stream every event to Splunk, Datadog, or your own webhook in real-time

* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure

About GovInfo MCP Server

Connect to the official GovInfo API and empower your AI agent with direct access to official publications from all three branches of the US Federal Government. Query congressional bills, federal regulations, court opinions, and presidential documents using natural language without navigating complex government databases.

Cursor's Agent mode turns GovInfo into an in-editor superpower. Ask Cursor to generate code using live data from GovInfo and it fetches, processes, and writes. all in a single agentic loop. 8 tools appear alongside file editing and terminal access, creating a unified development environment grounded in real-time information.

What you can do

Document Discovery — List available document collections and find specific packages based on date ranges or collection codes (e.g., BILLS, FR, CHRG)
Deep Search — Perform complex searches across the entire GovInfo database to find relevant legislative or regulatory documents
Daily Updates — Retrieve a list of all documents officially published on a specific date
Metadata Extraction — Get detailed summary metadata for specific packages or their sub-documents (granules)
Contextual Relationships — Discover related documents to understand the legislative or regulatory history of a specific bill or rule

The GovInfo MCP Server exposes 8 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Cursor in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.

How to Connect GovInfo to Cursor via MCP

Follow these steps to integrate the GovInfo MCP Server with Cursor.

Open MCP Settings

Press Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) → search "MCP Settings"

Add the server config

Paste the JSON configuration above into the mcp.json file that opens

Save the file

Cursor will automatically detect the new MCP server

Start using GovInfo

Open Agent mode in chat and ask: "Using GovInfo, help me...". 8 tools available

Why Use Cursor with the GovInfo MCP Server

Cursor AI Code Editor provides unique advantages when paired with GovInfo through the Model Context Protocol.

Agent mode turns Cursor into an autonomous coding assistant that can read files, run commands, and call MCP tools without switching context

Cursor's Composer feature can generate entire files using real-time data fetched through MCP. no copy-pasting from external dashboards

MCP tools appear alongside built-in tools like file reading and terminal access, creating a unified agentic environment

VS Code extension compatibility means your existing workflow, keybindings, and extensions all work alongside MCP tools

GovInfo + Cursor Use Cases

Practical scenarios where Cursor combined with the GovInfo MCP Server delivers measurable value.

Code generation with live data: ask Cursor to generate a security report module using live DNS and subdomain data fetched through MCP

Automated documentation: have Cursor query your API's tool schemas and generate TypeScript interfaces or OpenAPI specs automatically

Infrastructure-as-code: Cursor can fetch domain configurations and generate corresponding Terraform or CloudFormation templates

Test scaffolding: ask Cursor to pull real API responses via MCP and generate unit test fixtures from actual data

GovInfo MCP Tools for Cursor (8)

These 8 tools become available when you connect GovInfo to Cursor via MCP:

get_collection

Get packages within a collection by date range

get_granule_summary

Get summary metadata for a specific granule

get_package_summary

Get summary metadata for a specific package

get_published

Get documents published on a specific date

get_related_documents

Get documents related to a specific package

list_collections

List available document collections

list_package_granules

List granules (sub-documents) for a package

search_documents

Search documents via the GovInfo Search API

Example Prompts for GovInfo in Cursor

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Cursor agent to start working with GovInfo immediately.

"What collections of documents are available on GovInfo?"

"Show me the summary for the Federal Register package 'FR-2023-01-10'."

Troubleshooting GovInfo MCP Server with Cursor

Common issues when connecting GovInfo to Cursor through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.

Tools not appearing in Cursor

Ensure you are in Agent mode (not Ask mode). MCP tools only work in Agent mode.

Server shows as disconnected

Check Settings → Features → MCP and verify the server status. Try clicking the refresh button.

GovInfo + Cursor FAQ

Common questions about integrating GovInfo MCP Server with Cursor.

What is Agent mode and why does it matter for MCP?

Agent mode is Cursor's autonomous execution mode where the AI can perform multi-step tasks: reading files, editing code, running terminal commands, and calling MCP tools. Without Agent mode, Cursor operates in a simpler ask-and-answer mode that doesn't support tool calling. Always ensure you're in Agent mode when working with MCP servers.

Where does Cursor store MCP configuration?

Cursor looks for MCP server configurations in a mcp.json file. You can configure servers at the project level (.cursor/mcp.json in your project root) or globally (~/.cursor/mcp.json). Project-level configs take precedence.

Can Cursor use MCP tools in inline edits?

No. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode through the chat panel. Inline completions and Tab suggestions do not trigger MCP tool calls. This is by design. tool calls require user visibility and approval.

How do I verify MCP tools are loaded?

Open Settings → Features → MCP and look for your server name. A green indicator means the server is connected. You can also check Agent mode's available tools by clicking the tools dropdown in the chat panel.