HB1121, titled the No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act, would direct the federal government to bar executive agencies from using the DeepSeek application and any successor application or service developed or provided by High Flyer or an entity owned by High Flyer. The bill requires the Office of Management and Budget, working with several national security and technology agencies, to issue standards and guidelines within 60 days of enactment to remove the covered application from agency information technology.
The bill also builds in exceptions for law enforcement activities, national security interests and activities, and security researchers. For any authorized use under those exceptions, agencies would have to develop and document risk-mitigation measures. In effect, the measure creates a federal procurement and cybersecurity restriction aimed at limiting use of a specific foreign-linked AI application on government devices and systems.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would add a new federal restriction on executive agencies’ use of information technology by requiring removal of DeepSeek and related services from government devices and systems. It would not broadly regulate private-sector use, but it would affect federal IT policy, cybersecurity compliance, and agency software authorization practices. The bill would also require OMB and other national security and technology officials to establish implementation standards, while preserving limited exceptions for security, law enforcement, and research uses.
Sentiment
Based on the bill’s sponsorship and framing, the measure appears to have bipartisan support and a generally security-focused rationale. The text emphasizes national security, cybersecurity, and risk management rather than partisan policy goals. No committee transcript or vote record is available in the provided materials, so there is no recorded floor or committee sentiment beyond the bill’s introduction and referral.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the balance between cybersecurity restrictions and legitimate government uses of the application. The bill allows exceptions for law enforcement, national security, and security research, but requires agencies to document risk mitigation, suggesting concern about overbroad bans versus operational needs. Another likely issue is whether the bill targets a specific company or technology too narrowly, and whether the federal government should impose a categorical prohibition rather than a broader, risk-based review of foreign-developed AI tools.