DeepSeek deep-sixed at all US federal civilian agencies

The US Department of Homeland Security on Monday issued an order directing federal civilian agencies not to use technology products from Chinese AI lab DeepSeek, and to remove any existing implementations.

The order [PDF] is broad, as it requires agencies to ditch "all DeepSeek and DeepSeek-affiliate products, and third-party products and services developed using DeepSeek implementations." Complying will be tricky as it is not clear which third-party products and services have been developed using DeepSeek's wares.

Nor is it clear whether "developed using" means providing ongoing access to DeepSeek models via API or simply refers to any app vibe-coded with the help of DeepSeek.

It also leaves open the question of AI gateways.

Services such as OpenRouter and Vercel AI Gateway make DeepSeek's models available through APIs.

And those using gateway services may find themselves using DeepSeek models without meaning to do so.

OpenRouter, for example , "routes requests to the best available providers for your model." It selects what the service deems to be the best fit provider of AI services.

Vercel AI Gateway does the same by default .

So federal civilian agencies could be using DeepSeek models inadvertently, if they haven't taken steps to constrain their AI providers.

A DHS spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

US officials have contemplated a ban on DeepSeek since the China-based AI lab released DeepSeek-R1 in early 2025.

On February 6, 2025, US Representative Darin LaHood (R-IL) and US Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) introduced the No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act.

The lawmakers characterised DeepSeek as a national security threat because its AI models purportedly capture data on US citizens and provide it to the Chinese government.

The bill never made it out of committee, but various government agencies followed through.