U.S. Bans DeepSeek from Federal Civilian Agency Systems Amid AI Security Concerns

The Trump administration has formally barred Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek from federal civilian agency IT systems, citing risks of data exposure to Chinese authorities and potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities embedded in the company's models.

The Department of Homeland Security made the order public on Monday, though the directive was originally issued on July 24. It requires federal civilian agencies — including the Treasury, State, and Justice departments — to remove all DeepSeek-related technology from their systems and prohibits future procurement of DeepSeek products and services.

The ban extends beyond DeepSeek's own software to cover third-party products and services built on top of its AI models, a scope that could affect a broader set of vendors operating in the federal contracting space. The Department of Defense is excluded from the order.

The DHS stated that DeepSeek's AI models "present multiple threat vectors." The agency warned that use of the technology could result in sensitive U.S. government data being transmitted to China, potentially yielding intelligence on American citizens and government programs. The order also flagged the possibility that the models contain malware or other exploitable vulnerabilities, citing open-source research that identified multiple critical vulnerabilities in DeepSeek's iOS app.

Executive agencies may seek exceptions, including compliance delays, by submitting written justification to the DHS within 60 days of the order's issuance.

The latest directive is the broadest federal action against DeepSeek to date, though it is not the first. The Defense Information Systems Agency moved to block access to DeepSeek models in January 2025, according to reports. U.S. Commerce Department bureaus told staff the tool was banned on government devices in March of that year. Congress restricted DeepSeek's use in intelligence community systems in December 2025.

China's foreign ministry, responding to questions from Reuters, said Beijing "consistently opposes the over-generalization of national security as well as the politicization of science, technology and trade issues," according to spokesperson Mao Ning. The ministry said it would safeguard the rights and interests of its companies.

DeepSeek and China's Embassy in the United Kingdom did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The action comes amid deepening geopolitical friction between Washington and Beijing over artificial intelligence, with both governments treating the technology as central to long-term strategic competition. DeepSeek drew significant international attention after it emerged in early 2025, with its models widely regarded as competitive with those of leading U.S. firms.

With the civilian agency ban now public, attention will likely turn to whether the administration moves to extend similar restrictions to the private sector or to allied governments — and whether DeepSeek pursues any legal or diplomatic response through Chinese government channels.