Pentagon moves to designate Anthropic as a supply-chain risk

image via TechCrunch

February 27, 2026, 9:53 PM

• •Trump ordered federal agencies to stop using Anthropic products.
• •Anthropic was deemed a supply-chain risk by the Secretary of Defense.
• •The dispute was over Anthropic's restrictions on AI use for surveillance and autonomous weapons.
• •Anthropic's CEO reiterated the company's stance and offered a transition plan.

Former President Trump directed federal agencies to cease using Anthropic products following a public dispute with the Department of Defense, allowing a six-month phase-out period but barring the company from future federal contracts. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth subsequently designated Anthropic as a supply-chain risk to national security, forbidding military contractors from commercial activity with the AI firm. The Pentagon's disagreement with Anthropic stemmed from the company's refusal to allow its AI models to be used for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei reaffirmed this stance, expressing a preference to continue serving the Department while maintaining the safeguards, and offering a smooth transition if necessary.

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