US orders DeepSeek removed from federal systems, citing national security risks

The United States has directed federal civilian agencies to remove DeepSeek products and any third-party services developed using the Chinese AI model from their systems, citing national security risks, according to a notice released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday. The DHS also barred agencies from acquiring DeepSeek products and services, including those developed by affiliated entities, stating that using the company’s products "may result in the transfer of sensitive data to the PRC if used by US government employees or vendors" and that the models "themselves may contain malware or other security vulnerabilities."

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin signed the underlying order on July 24. The Chinese embassy in Washington has not yet responded to a request for comment. DeepSeek gained attention in 2025 with the release of its R1 model, which US President Donald Trump called a "wake-up call" for America's tech sector. The start-up has faced scrutiny from Washington policymakers who view its Chinese ownership as a threat to national security.

The House Select Committee on China released a report in April 2025 claiming DeepSeek represented a "profound threat to our nation's security," and US lawmakers introduced the "No Adversarial AI Act" in June 2025 to restrict federal use of China-linked AI tools. The bipartisan "No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act" was also introduced at the same time, aiming to ban DeepSeek from federal government devices.

This move is part of the Trump administration's broader effort to restrict Chinese technology as the two nations compete for global AI leadership, with other federal agencies like the Department of Commerce and the Navy also restricting the use of DeepSeek on government devices.