The administration of Donald Trump has ordered federal agencies to stop using AI tools from Anthropic. The move deepens a public clash over military access to the company’s technology.
Trump said agencies must halt use of Anthropic’s systems immediately. He granted the Pentagon six months to phase them out. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth labeled the firm a “supply chain risk.” That designation often targets foreign adversaries.
The dispute centers on Anthropic’s chatbot, Claude. CEO Dario Amodei refused to grant unrestricted military access. The company sought assurances that its AI would not support mass surveillance or autonomous weapons. The Pentagon said it would use the tools lawfully but demanded full access.
Anthropic called the action unprecedented and legally unsound. It vowed to challenge the designation in court. Trump warned of civil and criminal consequences if cooperation falters.
The decision has shaken Silicon Valley. Sam Altman of OpenAI backed Anthropic’s stance. Elon Musk supported the administration. His chatbot Grok may benefit from the shift.
Lawmakers, including Senator Mark Warner, questioned whether politics influenced national security decisions. The episode highlights growing tensions over AI’s military role.
