WASHINGTON, October 20, 2026: The Trump administration has barred Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek from civilian US government agencies, citing national security concerns over potential data exposure and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) made public an order requiring federal civilian agencies to remove DeepSeek-related technology from their information technology systems and prohibiting them from procuring the company’s products and services.
The restrictions also cover third-party products and services developed using DeepSeek technology.
Originally issued on July 24, the order applies to civilian agencies, including the departments of Treasury, State and Justice. The Department of Defense is excluded from the directive.
US Cites Data Security and Cybersecurity Risks
The DHS order states that DeepSeek’s AI models “present multiple threat vectors,” raising concerns about the potential access of Chinese authorities to sensitive information and the possibility of security vulnerabilities.
According to the department, using the models could expose sensitive US government data to transfer to China, potentially providing information about American citizens and government programmes.
The agency also warned that the models and associated applications could contain malware or other security weaknesses. It cited open-source research that identified multiple critical vulnerabilities in DeepSeek’s iOS application.
The allegations form the basis of the administration’s security restrictions. The order does not, by itself, establish that sensitive US government data has been transferred to China.
Restrictions Follow Earlier Agency Bans
The latest directive builds on restrictions introduced by several US government agencies since DeepSeek gained international attention in early 2025.
In March 2025, Commerce Department bureaus reportedly told staff that DeepSeek was prohibited on government devices, according to Reuters.
The Defense Information Systems Agency moved to block access to DeepSeek models in January 2025, Bloomberg reported. Congress subsequently restricted the use of DeepSeek in intelligence community systems in December 2025.
The measures reflect broader concerns within Washington about the use of foreign-developed AI systems in government environments, particularly where sensitive information and critical infrastructure are involved.
US-China Competition Extends to Artificial Intelligence
Davina McCall Reveals Cardiovascular Disease, Highlights Women’s Heart Health
The decision comes amid intensifying geopolitical and technological competition between Washington and Beijing.
Artificial intelligence has become a major area of strategic competition, with both countries seeking advances in AI models, computing infrastructure and applications across government and industry.
DeepSeek’s emergence in early 2025 intensified scrutiny of Chinese AI technology in the United States, prompting government bodies to review its potential security implications.
The new order reinforces the administration’s approach of restricting technologies it considers a risk to federal information systems.
Agencies Can Seek Exceptions
Under the directive, executive agencies can request exceptions, including additional time to comply, by submitting a written justification to the Department of Homeland Security within 60 days of the order’s issuance.
The order requires affected civilian agencies to remove covered DeepSeek-related technology and avoid procuring the company’s products and services, subject to any approved exceptions.
The restrictions add another layer to the US government’s efforts to manage cybersecurity risks associated with AI systems as adoption of the technology expands across public institutions.
