The U.S. government has initiated an unprecedented directive, ordering all federal agencies to halt the use of Anthropic’s AI model, Claude. This decision, marking Anthropic as a supply chain risk to national security, aligns the company with foreign adversaries like Huawei in terms of threat perception.
Immediate Action Required
On February 28, 2026, President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that federal agencies must “IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic’s technology.” A six-month phase-out period was granted to heavily integrated departments such as the Department of War (DoW), which have relied on the company’s AI solutions.
In a rapid response, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared Anthropic a Supply-Chain Risk to National Security, emphasizing that entities engaged with U.S. military contracts must sever commercial ties with Anthropic.
Core of the Dispute
The conflict hinges on Anthropic’s refusal to permit exceptions for mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weaponry. The Pentagon insisted on unrestricted access to Claude for lawful purposes, which CEO Dario Amodei firmly rejected, citing ethical concerns.
Anthropic has been a pioneer in deploying AI models on classified U.S. networks since June 2024, under a $200 million DoW contract. Despite extensive negotiations, a compromise was not reached, prompting the Pentagon to issue an ultimatum: comply or face blacklisting.
Legal and Industry Ramifications
Anthropic intends to challenge the supply chain risk designation legally, arguing that it is not applicable to broader commercial relationships outside the DoW contracts. This distinction means regular customers and non-DoW contractors remain unaffected.
The broader implications for the industry could be significant, as Anthropic’s reliance on cloud services from Amazon, Microsoft, and Google—companies with defense contracts—might be jeopardized. Legal experts caution that this action sets a dangerous precedent, diluting a tool traditionally reserved for foreign entities.
President Trump has warned of “major civil and criminal consequences” should Anthropic fail to comply during the transition period. The company, however, remains resolute in its opposition to autonomous weapons and domestic surveillance, asserting that no pressure will alter its stance.
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