US orders DeepSeek removed from federal civilian agency systems; China objects
In short
The Department of Homeland Security has ordered federal civilian agencies to remove DeepSeek products from their IT systems and stop buying them, in a notice made public in the Federal Register on Monday. China's foreign and commerce ministries objected and, according to AP, warned of retaliatory measures.
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The US Department of Homeland Security has ordered federal civilian agencies to remove products from the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek from their IT systems and barred them from procuring DeepSeek products and services, according to a notice made public in the Federal Register on Monday. The order also covers third-party products and services developed using DeepSeek, and TechCrunch reported that agencies can request exceptions. [ 5 , 7 , 9 , 12 ]
CNBC reported that the order was originally issued on July 24. It applies to federal civilian agencies, including the Treasury, State and Justice departments, but excludes the Department of Defense. The Guardian reported that DHS can issue direction to civilian agencies but not the military or intelligence services. Engadget said the notice also disallows DeepSeek from participating in federal government contracts. [ 3 , 7 , 11 ]
The order says DeepSeek's models "present multiple threat vectors". It notes that DeepSeek's servers are located in China, where the legal system gives the government "extensive authority" to access private company infrastructure. DHS warned that use of the tools "may result in the transfer of sensitive data" to China if used by US government employees or vendors, and that the models could "track or digitally fingerprint" users and might contain malware or other security vulnerabilities. SiliconANGLE reported that DHS cited the 2018 Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act following a review by the Federal Acquisition Security Council. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 9 , 11 ]
China pushed back on Tuesday. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China "will resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies" and "consistently opposes the overstretching of the concept of national security", AP reported. China's Ministry of Commerce expressed "strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition", saying the US side disregarded the consensus reached between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, according to AP. AP said China warned of retaliatory measures. [ 9 , 13 ]
Other US bodies have restricted DeepSeek before. CNBC reported that Congress restricted its use in intelligence community systems in December 2025, Commerce Department bureaus told staff in March that it was banned on government devices, and the Defense Information Systems Agency moved to block access in January 2025. The Guardian reported that Xi and Trump agreed in September to set up a "communication channel" for AI incidents, and that the topic is expected to come up at a summit scheduled for November in Shenzhen. The Guardian said DeepSeek had been contacted for comment. [ 7 , 11 ]
Why it matters
The order extends earlier US restrictions on DeepSeek to federal civilian agencies and comes amid what outlets describe as intensifying US-China tension over AI. Guardian coverage notes the topic is expected to arise at a planned Xi-Trump summit in November.
Key facts
- The Department of Homeland Security ordered federal civilian agencies to remove DeepSeek-related technology from their IT systems and barred them from procuring DeepSeek products and services. [ 5 , 7 , 9 ]
- The notice was published in the Federal Register on Monday; the order was originally issued on July 24. [ 5 , 7 , 9 ]
- The ban also covers third-party products and services developed using DeepSeek technology; TechCrunch says agencies can request exceptions. [ 6 , 7 , 9 , 11 , 12 ]
- The order applies to civilian agencies including the Treasury, State and Justice departments but excludes the Department of Defense. [ 7 ]
- DHS said DeepSeek's models present "multiple threat vectors", including possible transfer of sensitive data to China. [ 5 , 6 , 9 , 11 ]
- China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China would safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies. [ 7 , 9 , 12 ]
- China's Ministry of Commerce expressed "strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition", saying the US side disregarded the consensus reached between Xi and Trump. [ 9 , 13 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- DHS ordered federal civilian agencies to remove DeepSeek products from their IT systems and barred them from procuring DeepSeek products and services. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 11 , 12 ]
- The notice was made public in the Federal Register on Monday, and the order dates to July. [ 5 , 7 , 9 ]
- The ban extends to third-party products and services developed using DeepSeek. [ 6 , 7 , 9 , 11 , 12 ]
- China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning criticised the ban and said China would safeguard the rights of Chinese companies. [ 7 , 9 , 12 ]
Still unclear
- How the order relates to the release of DeepSeek's latest model. Engadget says the decision came a couple of days after the release of the V4.1-Flash-1017 model, but The Hill, CNBC and AP say the order dates to July.
- DeepSeek's response. The Guardian says DeepSeek was contacted for comment; no document gives a reply.
- What retaliatory measures China might take. AP says China warned of retaliatory measures; the documents do not specify any.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Reuters reports on 19 October that the US is banning DeepSeek from government agency IT systems. [ 1 ]
- The Hill reports on 19 October that DHS ordered the removal of DeepSeek, with the order published in the Federal Register on Monday. [ 5 ]
- CNBC reports on 20 October that the DHS order was made public on Monday and that China's foreign ministry responded to Reuters. [ 7 ]
- AP reports on 20 October that China hit back at the ban and warned of retaliatory measures. [ 9 ]
- Reuters reports on 20 October that China says the ban disregards the consensus reached by Xi and Trump. [ 13 ]