Recent US actions targeting DeepSeek, including DHS orders requiring federal civilian agencies to exclude and remove its AI products and related third-party services from IT systems, center on national security risks like data flows to China rather than broad public restrictions. DeepSeek’s open-weight models remain freely downloadable and accessible via platforms such as Hugging Face, direct apps, and domestic cloud providers, with no federal legislation or executive measures blocking general US user access as of late October 2026. China’s proposed export controls on advanced AI technologies further emphasize retaining core IP domestically while permitting overseas service access, reinforcing trader consensus that the 84.5% implied probability for “No” reflects limited momentum for public-facing removal by year-end. Key near-term catalysts include potential expansions of agency rules or FCC decisions on Chinese tech testing, though these have historically stayed narrow.