The Trump administration has banned Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek from civilian US government agencies, citing potential national security risks and concerns over sensitive data security.

The US Department of Homeland Security made public an order on Monday directing federal civilian agencies to remove DeepSeek-related technology from their IT systems.

The order also prohibits agencies from purchasing DeepSeek products and services, including third-party tools developed using the company’s technology.

The decision comes amid China tightening its export control over drones and industrial machinery.

Originally issued on July 24, the order covers several major departments, including the Treasury, State and Justice departments. However, the Department of Defense is excluded from the directive.

According to the DHS order, DeepSeek’s AI models pose multiple potential security threats. Officials warned that the technology could expose sensitive US government information to Chinese authorities, potentially revealing details about American citizens and government programmes.

The department also raised concerns about possible malware and cybersecurity vulnerabilities in DeepSeek’s products, citing open-source research that identified critical security flaws in the company’s iOS application.

The latest move follows earlier restrictions imposed by US authorities. In December 2025, Congress restricted DeepSeek’s use within intelligence community systems. Several Commerce Department bureaus and the Defense Information Systems Agency had also introduced restrictions earlier.

Federal agencies seeking exceptions, including additional time to comply, must submit written justifications to the DHS within 60 days of the order’s issuance.

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