AI Policy & Regulation
DHS Orders DeepSeek Removal From Civilian Systems
The order bars covered agencies from procuring DeepSeek products and requires removal of related technology.
A technician reviews software on a federal office computer as an AI application is removed.
Photo: Kronos News
The Department of Homeland Security has ordered federal civilian executive branch agencies to remove DeepSeek products from their IT systems and bar future procurement of covered products and services. The order also covers affiliates and third-party offerings developed using DeepSeek implementations, according to DHS’s notice as reported by MeriTalk. [2]
The restrictions took effect after DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin signed the order on July 24, 2026; DHS made it public on October 19, with a Federal Register notice scheduled for October 20. [2] DHS cited cybersecurity and privacy risks, including concerns about data handling and vulnerabilities, but these are the department’s stated rationale, not independently established findings in the reporting. [2] The reported scope excludes the Defense Department, intelligence community and national security systems. [2]
Editorial notes
Transparency note
AI assisted drafting. Human edited and reviewed.
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Risk assessment
The order’s cybersecurity and privacy rationale is reported as DHS’s assessment; the supplied reporting does not independently verify those underlying risks.
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Kronos News Desk covers ai policy & regulation and editorial analysis for Kronos News.