WASHINGTON: A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has introduced legislation seeking to bar the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems developed in China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea within federal executive agencies, citing national security concerns. According to a Reuters report, the proposed bill aims to establish a permanent framework to prevent foreign adversary AI technologies from operating within sensitive U.S. government networks.
The legislation, introduced by Representative John Moolenaar (R-Michigan) and Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Illinois), would mandate the Federal Acquisition Security Council to compile and regularly update a list of AI models originating from these countries.
“The U.S. must draw a hard line: hostile AI systems have no business operating inside our government,” Moolenaar told Reuters. “This legislation creates a permanent firewall to keep adversary AI out of our most sensitive networks, where the cost of compromise is simply too high.”
Under the proposed law, federal agencies would be prohibited from purchasing or deploying AI systems from the specified nations unless a specific exemption is granted by Congress or the Office of Management and Budget—for example, for academic or security-related research purposes.
The bill also contains a mechanism to delist technologies if verifiable evidence proves that the AI system is not controlled or influenced by a foreign adversary.
This legislative push follows recent concerns about DeepSeek, a Chinese AI firm alleged to be aiding China’s military and intelligence operations. A senior U.S. official had earlier told Reuters that DeepSeek had access to significant quantities of Nvidia chips, fueling fears over AI-driven espionage.
DeepSeek made headlines in January when it announced the development of an AI model comparable to OpenAI’s ChatGPT but at a lower operational cost. Since then, several U.S. corporations and federal bodies have moved to restrict its use due to data security risks. Reports also indicate that the Trump administration is considering a formal ban on its deployment across federal systems.
The bill is co-sponsored by Representatives Ritchie Torres (D-New York) and Darin LaHood (R-Illinois), and is being led in the Senate by Senators Rick Scott (R-Florida) and Gary Peters (D-Michigan).
