US government bars DeepSeek from civilian agency use

The Trump administration has banned US government agencies from using DeepSeek’s products, Bloomberg reports. The Chinese AI startup that shook up the model race in early 2025 is now formally unwelcome on federal civilian networks. What the directive actually does The order came from the Department of Homeland Security on October 19, 2026. It requires civilian federal agencies to stop using DeepSeek products and services, citing national security concerns. DHS laid out several potential threat vectors. These include the unauthorized transfer of sensitive data to China, intelligence gathering on US persons, and the introduction of malware or security vulnerabilities through DeepSeek’s models. The action is filed under Docket No. DHS-2026-0628. The finalized order was announced in the Federal Register on October 20, 2026, and agencies are required to comply immediately. The order aligns with the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act of 2018. That law supports efforts to protect national interests in how the federal government buys goods and services. The scope is deliberately narrow. The ban applies to civilian agencies and does not, for now, extend into broader export contro...