The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published an order that bars federal civilian agencies from buying DeepSeek technology and requires them to remove DeepSeek products, products from its affiliates, and third-party tools built using DeepSeek technology from their IT systems.
The order was signed on July 24. It became public when it was published in the Federal Register on October 20. The restriction had already been in effect for months by then.
DHS issued the order under the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act, after a review by the Federal Acquisition Security Council. The order applies to agency purchases and to technology already in use. That includes software and services that may use DeepSeek technology without carrying its name.
DHS says its concerns include the possible transfer of sensitive government information to China and security weaknesses in the models. Those are the risks DHS has stated. The published notice does not report a confirmed breach.
The measure applies to civilian federal agencies and is not a general ban on public use of DeepSeek. Reporting says it does not cover Defense Department systems. The disclosure also comes amid wider U.S.-China competition over artificial intelligence.
Washington is also scrutinizing technology supply chains.