US bans DeepSeek AI from federal civilian agency IT systems

The Trump administration has banned Chinese AI startup DeepSeek from civilian U.S. government agencies. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) made public an order requiring federal civilian agencies to remove DeepSeek-related technology from their IT systems and barring them from procuring DeepSeek products and services. The ban applies to third-party products and services developed using the company’s technology.

Security Concerns and Data Transfer

The DHS cited concerns over potential transfers of sensitive U.S. government data to China and security vulnerabilities in DeepSeek’s models. According to the order, DeepSeek’s AI models “present multiple threat vectors.” The agency warned that using these models could result in sensitive U.S. government data being transferred to China, potentially providing intelligence on American citizens and government programs.

The order notes that DeepSeek’s servers are located in China, where the legal system permits the government “extensive authority” to access private company infrastructure. Additionally, the agency stated that the models may contain malware or other security vulnerabilities, citing open-source research that identified multiple critical vulnerabilities in DeepSeek’s iOS app.

Scope of the Ban

The order, originally issued in July, applies to federal civilian agencies, including the Treasury, State and Justice departments. It explicitly excludes the Department of Defense. Executive agencies can request exceptions to the order, including delays in compliance, by submitting a written justification to the DHS within 60 days of the order’s issuance.

This move expands previous restrictions. Congress restricted the use of DeepSeek in intelligence community systems in December 2025. Earlier, in March 2025, U.S. Commerce Department bureaus told staff DeepSeek was banned on government devices, and the Defense Information Systems Agency moved to block access to DeepSeek models in January 2025.

Reactions and Context

China’s foreign ministry responded to the U.S. move by stating it would safeguard the rights and interests of its companies. Mao Ning, a ministry spokesperson, said that “China consistently opposes the over-generalization of national security as well as the politicization of science, technology and trade issues.”

Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., chair of the House Select Committee on China, supported the ban. “DeepSeek is a dangerous AI model that has no place in the federal government, and the Trump Administration is right to put this commonsense AI guardrail in place,” Moolenaar said in a statement. He added that the Select Committee investigated how DeepSeek is a tool for China to spy, steal, and subvert export controls.

Why it matters

The ban highlights the intensifying geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing, with artificial intelligence emerging as a key battleground in the two countries’ race for technological dominance. By extending the ban to third-party products, the U.S. government is addressing the complexity of modern software supply chains, where AI models may be embedded in various applications. This decision reflects broader efforts to restrict technology regarded as presenting national security risks, following similar actions by other countries including South Korea, Italy, and Germany.

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Sources

• cnbc.com: U.S. bans DeepSeek from government agency systems
• theguardian.com: US bans use of China’s DeepSeek AI tools by government agencies | Trump administration | The Guardian
• upi.com: U.S. government bans Chinese AI app DeepSeek from federal IT systems - UPI.com
• techradar.com: DeepSeek AI tools banned from US government agency systems as rift with China grows | TechRadar
• rttnews.com: US Bans DeepSeek AI From Civilian Government Systems Over Security Concerns
• linkedin.com: United States Bans China's DeepSeek From Federal IT Systems

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.