U.S. Bans Chinese DeepSeek AI From All Federal Civilian Agencies Over Data Security Risks

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has ordered all federal civilian agencies to immediately remove DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence platform, from their IT systems and bar any future use of the technology, citing espionage and data security concerns. The directive, signed in July 2026 by DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and formally filed with the Federal Register in October, invokes the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act and targets the rapidly growing AI service for its infrastructure location and vulnerability to foreign intelligence access.