US President Donald Trump has directed all federal agencies to stop using technology developed by AI company Anthropic, intensifying a dispute over how its systems may be deployed by the military.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the government would immediately cut ties. “We don’t need it, we don’t want it, and will not do business with them again,” he wrote. He later clarified that Anthropic’s tools would be phased out across government operations within six months.
At the center of the clash is Anthropic’s refusal to grant the US military unrestricted access to its AI models, including its Claude chatbot. The company has expressed concern that its systems could be used for mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons. It declined to agree to what the Pentagon described as “any lawful use” of its technology.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth responded by labeling Anthropic a “supply chain risk.” Such a designation would prohibit military contractors from engaging in commercial activity with the company. If formalized, it would be the first time a US company has publicly received that classification.
Anthropic said it has not received official confirmation from the White House or the Department of Defense regarding the designation. The company stated it would challenge any such move in court, arguing that it would be legally unsound and could set a dangerous precedent for American firms negotiating government contracts.
The dispute follows days of public and private exchanges between Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and Pentagon officials. Although Anthropic has indicated it would help ensure a smooth transition if the Defense Department shifts to another provider, Trump warned the company to cooperate during the phase-out or face potential civil and criminal consequences.
Anthropic has worked with US government agencies since 2024 and was among the first advanced AI developers to support classified federal projects. The episode underscores rising friction between AI firms and federal authorities over the military use of artificial intelligence.
