Trump Administration Bans DeepSeek AI From Federal Civilian Agencies

The Department of Homeland Security directed civilian federal agencies last July to eliminate DeepSeek technology from their systems and halt new purchases of the Chinese artificial intelligence company's products. The order, signed by DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin on July 24 and released publicly this week, applies to software developed by DeepSeek, its affiliates, and third-party vendors that incorporate the technology. Agencies must now remove the tools from information technology infrastructure while a limited exceptions process remains under DHS review.

DeepSeek, based in Hangzhou with servers located in China, rose quickly in the AI sector after its early 2025 release. Its systems process user prompts and can collect data including personal information. The order cites specific risks under Chinese law, which grants government authorities broad powers to access private company infrastructure and data. Federal officials determined that continued use would expose agency records, planning documents, and internal communications to potential collection by PRC intelligence services.

The directive covers departments such as Treasury, State, and Justice but leaves the Department of Defense outside its scope. Earlier restrictions already limited DeepSeek in intelligence community systems following congressional action in December 2025. Agencies received instructions to inventory existing deployments and transition away from affected tools, with compliance timelines set by DHS.

Chinese officials responded by stating opposition to what they described as overbroad application of national security concerns to technology and trade matters. Beijing indicated it would protect the interests of its domestic companies in the ongoing competition over artificial intelligence capabilities.

The policy reflects standard risk assessment applied to foreign technology subject to authoritarian legal regimes. Chinese statutes require firms to assist state security efforts when requested, creating predictable incentives for data extraction that differ from those in open legal systems. Government data handling therefore requires separation from entities operating under such rules.

Implementation will involve coordination across civilian agencies to identify substitute products and verify removal. Past experience with similar restrictions on other foreign software shows agencies can complete transitions when deadlines are enforced and alternatives are identified early. The measure aligns with existing federal practices for protecting sensitive information from jurisdictions where private entities lack independence from state demands.

Further agency actions may follow as additional reviews examine supply chain dependencies in emerging technologies. The core requirement remains straightforward: federal civilian operations must operate without reliance on systems located in and subject to the laws of the People's Republic of China.