DHS Orders DeepSeek Products Removed From Federal Civilian Systems

Summary

A DHS order requires U.S. federal civilian agencies to remove DeepSeek products and bars new purchases from the company and its affiliates. It also affects contractors on covered federal contracts; the notice gives no reason for the order.

Key points

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin issued the order on July 24, 2026; it was published in the Federal Register on October 20.
The order covers federal civilian agencies’ use and purchase of DeepSeek products, as well as third-party products or services developed using DeepSeek implementations.
The notice does not define “DeepSeek implementations” or state the reasons for the order.
The order does not restrict companies or the public; it applies to what civilian agencies buy and run.
Contractors performing covered federal contracts may be barred from providing or using covered products or services unless a waiver is granted. An order issued after a solicitation applies to an existing contract only after the contracting officer adds it by amendment or modification.
Agencies may request a written exception with a compelling justification. The issuing official must review the order at least annually.
DeepSeek did not immediately respond to the AP’s request for comment; China’s foreign ministry criticized what it called an overextension of national security.

Article Details

Event Type: U.S. Department of Homeland Security exclusion and removal order
Impact: U.S. federal civilian agencies must remove DeepSeek products and third-party products or services developed using DeepSeek implementations from their IT systems, and may not make new purchases from DeepSeek or its affiliates. The order also applies to covered federal contractors performing contracts with FAR clause 52.204-30, subject to waiver provisions. It does not restrict private companies or the public.